Grand Bassa County – Reports from Grand Bassa County says the only bridge linking the port city of Buchana and other counties is in a deplorable state. On Monday, June 5, 2023, a local radion station in Buchana city, Ablee-Jay reported that the old age bridge has lost some of the scrod and nuts holding it together due to it long stay and heavy automobile that pass on it.
The bridge was constructed in 1960 and it is a major trade route between Bong, Bassa, Grand Kru, Maryland and other Counties in Liberia. Reports from commuters claim that the broken bridge has become a death trap for anybody taking that route.
Liberia Public Works Minister, Ruth Cooker-Collins said, the problem of the bridge is due to a bearing that bust from one of its ends. She noted that thou that is a problem, small vehicles can use the bridge for light weight transportation. The minister added that heavy vehicles including long transporting vehicles, and earth moving equipment will be limited or prohibited from using the bridge.
The ingenier appealed to the people of Grand Bassa County and people using that route to keep calm as the government of Liberia through the Public Works Ministry to solve the problem. She noted that the damage bridge is not a death trip but an unfortunate situation that will be solve soon.
According to citizens in Grand Bassa, Alpha Logging Company, Atlantic Resource and others are companies that transport their commodities to Buchanan port using the bridge.
In a related development, Grand Bassa County’s economic operations seem to be in danger, as a result of the St. John River Bridge’s condition, the cost of goods like petroleum and other essentials is skyrocketing. The current state of the St. John River Bridge is claimed to have caused Grand Bassa County petroleum traders to raise the price of petroleum products, particularly gasoline.
A gallon of gasoline that cost LRD$740 a few days ago now costs LRD$1000, an increase of LRD$260.
Accordingly, a gallon of fuel that once cost LRD$780 is now LRD$850. It is also said that the cost of other important items, such as a bag of rice, vegetable oil, onions and other goods has all skyrocketed.
Photo credit: ABLEE-JAY
