President Commissions EU-Funded Bridge

Sierra Leone’s President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Saturday, May 14, 2022, commissioned 163-meter-long Magbele Bridge.

 The new two-lane bridge replaces the one-lane bridge which is in bad shape.

The European Union provided 48 million Euros (Le 634 billion) to the Government of Sierra Leone for the construction of the bridge which will provide a safer corridor for trade and commerce.

The Head of EU Delegation, Ambassador Manuel Müller, said that EU funded Magbele Bridge is part of a package of road infrastructure projects Sierra Leone and the European Union intend to round off before the 2023 rainy season.

“Other key parts of that road infrastructure package are the Mabang bridge and road links from Moyamba towards Yonibana/Mile 91 and from Bandajuma to the Liberian border,” he said.

He said that infrastructure support always requires a sustainable long-term planning.

“Beyond Magbele, Mabang, Moyamba and Bandajuma, most of you will of course always remember that Sierra Leone and the European Union have worked successfully on many more road infrastructure improvements than the bridge and road package that brought us here today,” he said.

“Essential roads among which I am proud to mention

–        the Masiaka-Bo highway including the widening of seven bridges

–        85 km of road along the Freetown-Conakry highway

–        the Makeni-Kabala highway

–        175Km of feeder roads in Koinadugu, Tonkolili and Bombali.”

Ambassodaor Muller said, “Building bridges is important, also between nations. It is not by coincidence that on the back of all Euro banknotes you will find drawings of bridge constructions.”

“What we witness today here in Magbele also is part of a huge program of building bridges between nations, as this road is part of network connecting whole West Africa. The European Union believes in the ‘Global Gateway’. The cooperation of the EU and Sierra Leone, our teamwork has contributed to more connectivity in the sub-region.”

President Bio said, “In less than 4 years alone in Port Loko District, my government, with our Eu partners, has constructed this 163-meter-long modern two-lane bridge. In less than 4 years, we are constructing a US$270 million  airport terminal at Lungi, Port Loko District even when the other people wanted to move the airport away from Lungi.”

Director General of Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Ing. Amara Kanneh, said the bridge was constructed with funds from the European Union, EU, under the supervision of the National Authorising Office (NAO) in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

He said that the bridge was 7.2 meters on each side with a footpath of 5 meters.

“This bridge will stand the test of time, and if preventive measures are observed and maintained, it will serve for more than 100 years. Thank you very much President Julius Maada Bio for providing the requisite leadership. Thank you, the EU,” he concluded.

According to the Director, National Authorizing Office Ambrose James, since Sierra Leone accession to the EU-ACP partnership agreement in the mid 1970s adding that Sierra Leone continues to benefit enormously from the European Union in pursuit of the Country’s development strides.

“As we continue implementing the 11th European Development Fund projects, the country has benefitted in various sectors including support to the education sector in Sierra Leone programme, boosting Agriculture and food security, support to Governance sector, jobs and growth programmes and key infrastructural projesct which includes the Bandajuma to the Liberia Border roads and bridges and the Moyamba-Moyamba junction road and bridges” He noted.

James mentioned that the Magbele bridge is part of the larger Moyamba town to Moyamba junction and bridges project and one of the two major infrastructure projects funded by the European Union Cooperation.

He said the Magbele bridge would have completed since 2021 but disrupted by the Corona virus adding that during this period there had been effective monitoring, regular meetings and consultation with all parties.

“At the NAO we will continue to facilitate Government of Sierra Leone and the European Union Development Cooperation for the benefit of citizens of the Country” he noted.