Monrovia, Liberia – The long-awaited Western Corridor Road Development Project, a US$364 million infrastructure project that is predicted to improve cross-border trade with neighbouring Sierra Leone and change Liberia’s road network, was formally launched by the Liberian government on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
President Julius Maada Bio and high-ranking officials from both nations attended the groundbreaking event, which took place in Bo Waterside close to the Sierra Leonean border and signaled a new commitment for regional integration and economic growth.
Speaking at the event, President Boakai called the project a “defining moment” in Liberia’s progress, stressing that it addresses decades of rural isolation and restricted access to essential services in addition to road building. “This is not just about roads; it is about opening our country and improving the lives of our people,” Boakai declared.
He stated that a key entrance to Sierra Leone and the larger Mano River region will be created through the Western Corridor Road, which will link Montserrado, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount Counties. According to him, the project is a part of a larger infrastructure strategy that aims to improve connectivity and open up economic opportunities across the country.
Boakai also noted that only 1,442 kilometers, or slightly more than 10%, of Liberia’s more than 14,000 kilometres of roads are paved, acknowledging the severity of the nation’s infrastructure deficit. “For a nation approaching 200 years of existence, this is simply intolerable, vowing to accelerate road development across the country,” he said.
The project is being carried out under a 25-year Public-Private Partnership with Pavifort Al Associates, according to the Liberian leader. Construction is anticipated to create over 1,000 jobs, especially for young people. It is also anticipated to shorten travel times, lower transportation costs, and increase access to markets, healthcare, and education.
According to President Boakai, the Western Corridor project will enhance regional travel and commerce by completing the proposed Voinjama–Mendikorma route. According to Prince Tamba, the PAVI Fort AL Associates Concession Project will design, finance, build, run, and maintain 255 kilometres of vital road corridors across Montserrado County, Bomi County, Grand Cape Mount County, and Lofa County.
He claims that the project will provide a contemporary tolling system to support long-term maintenance and greatly improve Liberia’s transport networks in the country’s north and west. A combination of dual and single carriageways, including a significant 38-kilometer extension from St. Paul Bridge to Klay into a dual carriage toll road, will be delivered during the five-year building phase, according to Tamba.
He clarified that other routes, including those from Klay to Bo Waterside, Klay to Tubmanburg, Madina to Robertsport, and Voinjama to Kolahun to Mendikorma, would be renovated or enhanced in order to improve market access, shorten travel times, and boost regional trade.
The project is structured under a Hybrid Annuity Public-Private Partnership model, which combines elements of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) with Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT). According to the Minister, financing will be divided 60:40 between the government, which will contribute US$146 million, and the private concessionaire, which will contribute US$218 million.
He continued by saying that the main source of income will come from toll collections, which are expected to start in January 2027 after the roads are partially completed. He estimated the annual net toll revenues to be around US$15 million, with money going toward government profits, private investment repayment, and maintenance.
