PHOTO: The newly opened Du River Bridge
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
The strategic Du River Bridge linking the Firestone rubber plantation to several parts of Margibi County and nearby counties, which collapsed few years ago, has now been reconstructed.
The damaged Du River Bridge was a single lane truss bridge of 3.6m width and 50.06m length constructed in 1938 by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
In June 2017, the bridge finally collapsed due to heavily loaded trucks carrying aggregate for the Roberts International Airport runway project.
But the Liberian government and Firestone Liberia LLC immediately began working together on a plan to rebuild the bridge through a public/private arrangement.
In 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to jointly provide funding for the construction of a new bailey bridge at the site. The Ministry of Public Works then signed an agreement with the Jupiter Construction Inc. to execute the bridge construction and necessary civil works.
On Tuesday, December 6, 2021, the Liberian government officially opened the newly constructed bridge in District #1 in Firestone, Margibi County to the public.
The newly constructed bridge is a double span ACROW triple-double Bailey bridge, double lane, 7.2m width, and a length of 47.25m. The bridge also features a pedestrian walkway for added safety.
Youths commendation
Following the opening of the bridge to the public early this week, the youths of District #1 in Margibi County have extolled the District Representative, Tilberosa Summoh Tarponweh, the Liberian government and the management of Firestone Liberia for reconstructing the Du River Bridge.
The total cost of the bridge, including necessary civil works, is US$1,306,612.00. The cost of the approach roads necessary to accommodate the new double lane bridge is US$352,870.00.
Meanwhile, in appreciation of the efforts applied by the District Representative and others, youths of the area speaking through their coordinator, Isreal Mayou, at a press conference held during the official opening of the bridge extended thanks and appreciation to Rep. Tarponweh, members of the Margibi Legislative Caucus, the Government of Liberia and the Management of Firestone Liberia for what they termed as the successful completion and reconstruction of the bridge.
Rep. Tarponweh
“We want to accept that your advocacy for the expeditious renovation of the bridge came at the time when it was desperately needed by the people, so with this, we are grateful.”
According to him, the Lawmaker passionate plead for the political, social, educational and economic livelihood of the people has taught them as youths that leadership is all about service.
He noted that since 2017 the Lawmaker took on the fight to carry relief to the people commuting in the area.
He indicated that this “giant-sized advocacy” of the Lawmaker will not go unnoticed and very soon they will translate their statement into action.
“Today we have come to dispel the malicious lies that the young people of Liberia are not vigilant and not appreciative and they are only good to be hoslers of hose and drawers of water.
Isreal stated that the youths, students, marketers, farmers and tappers of the district are not ingrates.
He said the youths of the area can still remember the fatigue and panic they endured many days and nights on canoe crossing the Du River.
Additionally, the District #1 youth leader said they are not insensitive and have not forgotten the tragic incident of 2018 when they lost nearly 20 of their citizens on canoe while crossing the river.
“With you as our Caucus Chairman surrounded by progressive legislators like Senator James Emmanuel Nuquay, Representatives Ben Fofana and Ivar Jones and others, we are of the strongest conviction and optimistic that our dear district and county are on the rightful trajectory and we are gradually getting there” he expressed.
He assured the Lawmaker that they will not sleep anymore, adding that the young people of the district are unreservedly prepared to render him all assistance in the formulation and implementation of his progressive policies in the best interest of the district and the county.
Isreal reaffirmed the trust and confidence of the youths in the leadership of Rep. Tarponweh something he he noted is satisfy to say he has executed all his three functions and had gone beyond.
He said it is with confidence that the Lawmaker is a gift of providence to the district.
Isreal Mayou continued: “Let somebody name or show us what our progressive Lawmaker has left undone and we will count thousands of things he has accomplished in a relatively short space of time, we are not ungrateful, we are not hypocrite”.
The youth leader lauded the District #1 Representative for the Duazohn police station that is under construction, the Boye Town market and the completion of the Garzon Reserved clinic.