Capitol Hill – The Liberian Senate, through its Committee on Public Works and Rural Development, is preparing to formally request the Executive Branch of government to develop a comprehensive national road plan. This initiative aims to task the Ministry of Public Works with producing a strategic and inclusive roadmap to guide the development of Liberia’s road infrastructure nationwide.
This forthcoming recommendation stems from a proposal by Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie, who chairs the Committee and is also the former Senate Pro Tempore. Senator Chie’s recommendation follows a series of consultations and assessments conducted by the committee, which found the country’s road infrastructure to be in a critical state of disrepair.
The national road plan, once commissioned, is expected to serve as a blueprint for addressing Liberia’s road connectivity challenges. The committee intends to incorporate feedback and recommendations from various senators before submitting the final proposal to the Senate plenary for endorsement.
Senator Chie has emphasized the urgency of a coordinated national approach, citing Liberia’s dire road conditions and the detrimental impact on national development. In a recent report to the Senate, he noted that only 1,212 kilometers of Liberia’s 13,000-kilometer road network are currently paved, leaving over 11,000 kilometers—more than 90 percent—impassable during much of the year, especially the rainy season. He estimated that paving the remaining roads would require an investment exceeding US$7 billion, with costs ranging between US$600,000 and US$750,000 per kilometer.
The senator highlighted the human and economic toll of Liberia’s deteriorating road infrastructure. He criticized the continued use of laterite roads and makeshift log bridges, which he said hamper agricultural trade, delay health services, and disrupt schooling and daily life. He cited the Pleebo-Barclayville highway as a prime example of failed maintenance, attributing its poor state to underperforming contractors.
To address these shortcomings, Chie called for a thorough review of contractor performance and recommended that the Ministry of Public Works be empowered to terminate contracts that do not meet required benchmarks. He noted a growing pattern of non-performance across several road corridors and emphasized the need for accountability and timely intervention.
Despite these challenges, Chie acknowledged ongoing governmental efforts to tackle the road crisis. He welcomed the inclusion of funds in the 2025 National Budget for the procurement of “yellow machines”—heavy-duty road maintenance equipment—to be distributed across all counties. Additionally, he praised the National Road Fund (NRF) for initiating performance assessments of major corridors and for beginning reforms to strengthen the legal framework governing its operations.
Among other legislative proposals, Chie urged that all revenues intended for the NRF be deposited directly into a dedicated escrow account rather than the general Consolidated Fund. He argued that this would expedite access to maintenance funding and reduce bureaucratic delays. He also called for the development of a comprehensive borrowing strategy—both domestic and external—to finance large-scale infrastructure projects that the national budget alone cannot sustain.
In its recent oversight activities, the Committee on Public Works received detailed data from the Ministry of Public Works, including the total lengths of paved and unpaved roads, ongoing and planned projects, donor-funded initiatives, and reports on key developments such as the Chinese-funded overpass and the Bali Island project. The committee also examined concession agreements and evaluated deteriorating roads in key urban areas like Central Monrovia.
During an April session, the Committee held discussions with the Management of the National Road Fund to evaluate dry-season roadwork progress and recommend legislative improvements. These engagements have reinforced the Committee’s view that Liberia’s road issues represent not just a development concern but a national emergency.
Senator Chie concluded with a stark warning: unless bold and immediate actions are taken, large portions of Liberia will once again be isolated as the rainy season begins. He stressed that national development must begin with reliable road access—a foundation without which all other progress remains uncertain.
