02/09/2025
Full Statement Delivered By President Boakai at the Groundbreaking of the Two China-Aid Overpass Bridges on Tubman Boulevard.
September 2, 2025
Mr. Vice President;
Members of the Cabinet and Officials of Government;
Ambassador Lin Chengwu of the People’s Republic of China;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Development Partners;
The Media;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
Fellow Liberians:
Today, we are working on a project that will change how people travel, trade, and live along one of the Capital’s busiest routes.
The two overpass bridges on Tubman Boulevard, one near the Ministerial Complex and the other further east at SKD Boulevard, are more than just concrete and steel. They are practical solutions to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and prevent the economic losses our people face every day due to traffic delays in delivering and acquiring goods and services, as well as the movement of ambulances and fire trucks to where they are most needed.
This is the power of road infrastructure: it shortens distances, lowers costs, and enhances economic growth. Once these bridges are completed, there will be a visible sign of our Government keeping its promises to improve the efficiency of our road network.
This undertaking is rooted in the core of our national development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). At its heart lies a recognition that road infrastructure is fundamental to inclusive growth. Roads connect people to opportunities and are essential to ending rural neglect. By investing in modern road systems, we are doing more than improving travel—we are building the foundation for a unified, accessible, and prosperous Liberia.
Let me begin by expressing the Government of Liberia's deep gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for its ongoing generosity in supporting Liberia's economic transformation. This cooperation and partnership between our two countries is at its best, with a significant focus on implementing tangible projects that align with our national development agenda.
To the Ministry of Public Works, I would like to express my gratitude for the careful preparation, technical diligence, and coordination required. Your steady work has brought us to this moment. By creating two modern, grade-separated intersections, we are now removing bottlenecks that have constrained mobility for years along Tubman Boulevard, leading to the city limits.
Upon completion, this project will provide numerous benefits to the people of Liberia.
• There will be fewer conflict points between vehicles and pedestrians, which will decrease crashes and injuries.
• Enhancing logistics for traders, schools, clinics, and small businesses along the corridor will boost activity and lower transportation costs.
• Reduce travel time during peak hours for travelers along the corridor.
• Ensure improved traffic regulation and support for public transportation efficiency.
These benefits are significant! Additionally, jobs and local opportunities are integral to our vision. Moreover, this project will create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs—from skilled technicians and machine operators to vendors and support services. We expect the contractor to uphold the highest standards of quality, safety, and Liberian participation, including decent work standards and on-the-job training that builds long-term national capacity.
I want to address residents and businesses directly along this corridor. Construction causes temporary inconvenience through diversions, slower traffic, and work zones. I ask for your patience, cooperation with traffic officers, and your commitment to road safety. Please respect barriers, follow signs, and keep children away from work areas. These short-term inconveniences are the cost of long-term investment and progress.
Still, the result will definitely be worth it.
To our contractor, you are expected to deliver a high-quality project, maintain a safe construction site, and complete the work within the two-year timeframe set by the People’s Republic of China.
To the supervision and design teams: enforce standards and transparency in ex*****on. To the media: share the true story, including both challenges and progress, to keep the public informed.
Today’s groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone as our Government prioritizes infrastructure investment to drive economic growth by building roads and bridges that connect communities and provide access to agricultural and mining regions. We are also emphasizing investments in energy and water supply to overcome economic growth barriers by aligning public resources and donor support with our national development goals.
I want to emphasize a principle that guides this Government: maintenance and stewardship. We will not only construct but also maintain. These overpasses will be part of a corridor managed with discipline, which involves enforcing right-of-way, restricting unnecessary parking, and upholding road safety rules. Infrastructure is only adequate in delivery when we take care of it.
Fellow Liberians, as these development projects take place, let our appreciation for transformation grow. Respect new developments and keep our environment clean.
Let me conclude by once again thanking the People’s Republic of China for its support and the Ministry of Public Works for the excellent coordination that led to the start of this project.
Together, we are building the Liberia we promised: a safer, faster, more connected, and more prosperous Liberia.
Fellow Liberians, it is now my pleasure to officially launch, on this 2nd day of September, 2025, the construction of the two China-Aid Overpass Bridges along Tubman Boulevard.
I want to thank God and thank you all.
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