The Inquirer (Monrovia)
26 September 2008
The Government of Liberia says the reconstruction of the collapse old bridge would take up to 695 days before completion.
Acting Information Minister Cletus Sieh, who made the disclosure, said the agreement to have the bridge reconstructed took place last Wednesday in Monrovia between the government and a Chinese company he identified as "SECO."
Minister Sieh, who is the Deputy Information Minister for Administration said the project would be financed by the World Bank in the tune of over US$14million United States Dollars.
He said work at the bridge has commenced since last Wednesday and would provide employment opportunity for approximately 300 Liberians.
The bridge, which was constructed in 1946 under the government of President William V.S. Tubman collapsed sometime ago shortly after the Ministry of Public Works issued a warning to pedestrians and motorists urging them to avoid using the facilities on grounds that it could collapse and cause disaster.
The government at the time blamed the collapse of the bridge on lack of maintenance over the long years by past governments.
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The construction of the old bridge to take two years? Un realistic proposal. Yes we know that every free thing has a price tag attached to it. Hence, in this case the government of Liberia needs to suplement the Chinese company that has undertaken to speed up the project. Every-one in Liberia knows that the bridgte is one of the life blood of the country; why can't the Ellen's government scrafice for this viable project but officials of government continue to corrupt the resources for their selfish goals? Admitance by Ellen through the audit report. Ms. Sirleaf, you said,"destroy the Excutive Mansion and you could built it in two weeks." Why can't you build this bridge in one year to give the Liberian people the benefit of the doubt? Now you are in the driver's seat; you know what it means. No more criticizing but positive actions needed to give liberians' lives a meaning.
What are you talking about Garmack? This is not about the lack of money. A World Bank project will not be lacking in funds once the project funding has been earmarked. Definitely, the project does not need to be supplemented with additional funds in order to rush it. You don’t even know whether this is a loan or a grant so shut up if you haven’t gotten enough information on the project to talk. It will take two years because it is an engineering timeframe base on factors which have nothing to do with money. Are you an engineer to know that the project requires certain environmental or weather conditions which might impact the duration? Do you know how elaborate the project is going to be? One 8 storey building in Monrovia costs $4 million dollars. This project of a bridge is $14 million! This is not some monkey bridge. This is a huge infrastructural project. Besides, going by the original plan, this bridge is going to connect to a major infrastructural development of the Waterside area. You seem to be some of the people who just want to see the country backwards so that you can prey off the weak. What a buffoon!
It would be educational to inform instead of insult. respect.
Instead of fighting, we need to come together and help build the country we love. W've fought against one another for too long and it is time to stop. I think it is good that the bridge will be built no matter how long it takes. Peace love and prosperity to all my liberian people.
I am not a construction or civil engineer, but I think two years is a lot of time to build the old bridge. Chinese companies looks much more faster and reliable in terms of construction and engineering related work.
Well actually the article said it would take UP to 695 days to complete. So it may take less, if the time actually matters. It could be possible that the person working out the logistics said “worst case scenario” the bridge building takes 2 years, thus erring on the side of caution, this is the time frame they announced to the public. It might be less... in any case I am sure that every body wants the bridge to be built not a timeframe bickered over. Which one is really helping Liberia?
T,M. If you have been following Zobong's analysis on other issues on the internet, you will know that he is not the level of person to engage with. Besides, read what he said about the bridge concerning money and the last part of the paragraph.Here one will know that his thoughts are not properly connected. What three story building has to do with a bridge? Moreover, he does not have the technical know how to educate anyone. Predicated on these, he should continue to write his jargons which are not facts.