Liberia plans to exceed road paving targets by 2029

The Ministry of Public Works in Liberia plans to pave more than 700 kilometers of primary roads by 2029, exceeding the government's original target by 44 percent.

Minister Roland Layfette Giddings announced the projection during a press briefing, noting that the government originally aimed for 485 kilometers of primary roads and 125 kilometers of urban and community roads. The ministry expects to surpass these goals by reaching over 150 kilometers of urban and community roads as well.

The ministry is currently managing 22 primary corridors totaling about 1,191.6 kilometers. While 15 corridors covering 663.5 kilometers are already under construction, five others are in the procurement or design phase. The remaining two corridors are awaiting approval from the African Development Bank and the World Bank, which the ministry expects to receive in early 2027. The current projection excludes two major planned corridors, including the Liberia Legacy Economic Corridor.

To support local industry, the ministry implemented a new regulation that reserves all laterite and concrete road construction contracts for Liberian-owned companies. This rule requires companies to have at least 51 percent Liberian equity and management. The ministry reported that 82 percent of the contractors currently working on the Public Sector Investment Programme are Liberian-owned. Additionally, the ministry reduced its internal approval steps for contractor payments from 88 to 57 to help local firms manage cash flow.