Freetown, 17th April 2026 – Sierra Leone and Liberia are set to break ground on a landmark $364 million cross-border road corridor, a project expected to transform regional connectivity, boost trade, and strengthen economic integration within the Mano River Union.
The 255-kilometer corridor, scheduled for launch on Saturday, April 18, will link Montserrado County, home to Monrovia, with key border points, opening new routes for commerce and mobility. The project includes a 38-km toll road between St. Paul Bridge and Klay, alongside 217 km of non-toll roads.
The contract has been awarded under a 25-year Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) concession to Sierra Leonean construction firm Pavifort Al Ltd, marking a milestone for indigenous private sector participation in regional infrastructure. Pavifort will finance 60% of the project, while the Liberian government will cover the remaining 40% through the National Road Fund and a $100 million guarantee.
“This is a defining moment for Sierra Leonean engineering expertise on the regional stage,” said Alimou Sanu Barrie, Chairman and CEO of Pavifort, pledging to deliver the project to international standards.
The initiative forms part of Liberia’s 2025–2029 Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development, which identifies road infrastructure as a critical bottleneck, with more than 88% of the country’s network unpaved. According to the World Bank’s Liberia Poverty Assessment 2023, poor road access affects 42% of the population, raising transport costs and limiting access to markets and services.
Strategic upgrades will include the expansion of the St. Paul Bridge–Klay highway into a four-lane carriageway, as well as improvements to the Klay–Bo Waterside, Klay–Tubmanburg, and Madina Junction–Robertsport routes.
The groundbreaking ceremony at Bo-Waterside Border Post will be jointly officiated by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. of Liberia, underscoring the project’s regional significance.
Beyond infrastructure, the project is expected to generate jobs, facilitate trade, and enhance cross-border movement. For Pavifort, the concession represents both a commercial breakthrough and a showcase of Sierra Leone’s growing capacity to deliver on large-scale international projects.
