For some times now, there had been controversies over who takes the credit on international engagements that led to the granting of a major Construction project to Liberia.
President Joseph N. Boakai, officially launched the construction of Liberia’s first-ever overhead bridges (overpasses) on September 2, 2025. The President stated that the project is a landmark infrastructure initiative designed to modernize the capital and alleviate severe traffic congestion in Monrovia.
The $36.6 million project, fully funded by a grant from the People’s Republic of China, consists of two modern overpass bridges located along the busy Tubman Boulevard corridor:
The Overpass located near the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town., and towards the intersection of Tubman Boulevard and SKD Boulevard (near the SKD Sports Complex), is expected to last 24 months, with a scheduled completion and dedication date in August 2027.
The project is being executed by the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group (or Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group, depending on the specific bridge segment).
The overpasses will be four-lane overhead structures with a 20cm thick deck supported by precast I-beams.
The government estimates the project will create between 300 and 400 jobs for both skilled and unskilled Liberian workers.
President Boakai has emphasized that these bridges are a “practical solution” under his ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. Expected benefits include:
Drastic reduction in travel time during peak hours along one of Monrovia’s busiest corridors.
Improved safety for both motorists and pedestrians by separating vehicle and foot traffic at major junctions and lead to reduced transportation and logistics costs for small businesses, schools, and clinics.
As of March 2026, construction is actively progressing, with Chinese engineers on-site and heavy equipment being utilized to meet the 2027 completion target.
On September 9, 2019 the government of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China signed an agreement for the construction of two separate over bridges in congo town, outside Monrovia.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Liberia’s Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia expressed deep gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for the laudable initiatives from China to Liberia. He noted that the two overhead bridges, if constructed, will help ease the traffic congestion and protect lives and properties in Congo Town outside the nation’s capital, Monrovia.
The process which led to the signing of such significant agreement – started during the later days of the Ellen-Baokai administration.
Unfortunately, the reality of such a project didn’t come to pass – as the diplomatic relationship between the governments of Liberia and China reportedly fell apart during the Weah – Taylor regime. However, In September of 2025, President Joseph Nyumah Baokai, in his capacity as Liberia’s new President – along with his foreign team, managed to resuscitated the diplomatic relationship which paved the way for the groundbreaking for the construction of the overpasses at the ESJ Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
According to information from the government of Liberia, the overhead bridge project at the Tubman Boulevard, when completed, will have a total length around 1,140 Meters including a viaduct of 300 meters – while the SKD Boulevard grade-separated intersection overhead bridge – will have a total length of about 870 meters including a viaduct of 180 meters with a corresponding ending ramps and auxiliary roads.
