Bo Waterside, Liberia — April 18, 2026 — In a powerful display of bilateral cooperation, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. on Saturday jointly performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a major $364 million, 255-kilometre Western Corridor road project that will significantly enhance connectivity between the two neighboring countries.
The ambitious infrastructure initiative, implemented under a 25-year Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) concession awarded to the Sierra Leonean firm Pavifort Al Ltd (also referred to as Pavi Fort), aims to upgrade and construct primary roads linking key areas in Liberia’s Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa counties, with direct connections to border points including Bo Waterside and ultimately facilitating improved access toward Gendema on the Sierra Leonean side.
The corridor includes a 38-kilometre two-lane toll road from St. Paul Bridge to Klay, along with approximately 217 kilometres of non-toll roads.
Officials highlighted that the project will feature upgraded, higher-capacity highways, including sections designed as an 8-lane border highway near the crossing. It is expected to substantially cut cross-border travel times, reduce transportation costs, and boost trade in goods and services between the two Mano River Union (MRU) member states.
Financing for the $364 million project involves the concessionaire covering 60% of the costs, while the Liberian government will contribute the remaining 40% through the National Road Fund and a $100 million guarantee. Completion is targeted within five years, after which the operator will handle tolling, maintenance, and operations before eventual transfer.
Speaking at the event held at the Bo Waterside Border Post in Grand Cape Mount County, President Boakai described the project as a transformative gateway that links Monrovia and surrounding counties to Sierra Leone and the broader region, emphasizing respect for citizens’ needs for better infrastructure.
President Bio echoed this sentiment, underscoring the shared commitment to strengthening ties and advancing economic integration.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in deepening bilateral relations and advancing infrastructure within the Mano River Union sub-region, which comprises Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. It builds on ongoing regional efforts, such as earlier phases of the MRU Road Development and Transport Facilitation Programme supported by the African Development Bank and other partners, as well as complementary projects like the EU-funded sections of the Trans-West African Highway connecting Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
Officials from both governments stated that the Western Corridor project will not only facilitate smoother movement of people and goods but also unlock new economic opportunities, stimulate local businesses, create jobs during construction and operation, and promote greater regional integration in West Africa. The presence of both heads of state at the ceremony underscored the high-level political will driving this cross-border endeavor.
This landmark development comes amid broader infrastructure pushes in both nations, with Sierra Leone advancing roads toward its Liberian border (including the previously completed Bandajuma-Gendema corridor) and Liberia focusing on linking its western and northern corridors for enhanced internal and external connectivity.
