The inhabitants of Bonla and Lugbehyee in Nimba County will no longer have to endure the difficult and sometimes dangerous experience of crossing unsafe wooden bridges to access their communities.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has constructed two concrete bridges in the area, replacing makeshift wooden structures that had become a major obstacle to the movement of people, vehicles and goods.
The new bridges have brought relief to motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and residents who depend on the roads for access to markets, schools, farms, health facilities and other essential services.
Bonla is one of the communities located near Liberia’s border with Guinea in northwestern Nimba. The community is also situated near Mount Yuelliton, also known as Yeleweleton, an area where ArcelorMittal Liberia conducts mining activities.
For years, residents relied on long logs placed across creeks as temporary crossings. During periods of heavy rainfall, the crossings became particularly difficult to use and posed serious risks to people and vehicles.
The poor condition of the bridges also affected commercial transportation and the movement of agricultural products from surrounding communities.
Harrison Waydon, Community Relations Superintendent at AML, said the company decided to support the construction of the bridges after assessing the condition of the existing crossings and their impact on the communities.
“The condition then made Bonlah Town inaccessible, and at some point in time, commercial vehicles traveling on the road would fall off the bridges, thereby leading to losses,” Waydon explained.
He said the intervention was intended to address an immediate safety concern while improving access for communities that depend heavily on the road network for their daily activities.
The concrete structures are expected to provide a more reliable crossing and reduce the disruptions residents previously experienced, particularly during the rainy season.
For communities such as Bonla and Lugbehyee, the importance of the project goes beyond the physical structures. Reliable roads and bridges are essential to local economic activity because farmers need to transport produce, traders need access to markets and families need dependable routes to schools and health facilities.
The bridge project is also consistent with AML’s broader approach to supporting communities around its operations through investments in infrastructure and social development.
Over the years, AML has supported a range of community development initiatives in Nimba, Grand Bassa and Bong counties. These interventions have included road rehabilitation, education support, healthcare, housing, agricultural assistance, scholarships, community engagement and employment opportunities.
In Nimba, the company has also worked with communities along its mining and railway corridors to improve relationships and address local development priorities.
AML’s community engagement has included support for local housing initiatives, agricultural activities and income opportunities, while its health interventions have helped provide access to healthcare services in communities around its operations.
The company has also invested in education through support for schools and scholarships, while its local employment initiatives have created opportunities for residents of communities located near its operations.
The Bonla and Lugbehyee bridge project therefore represents another practical example of how community infrastructure can address everyday challenges faced by residents.
For people who previously had to depend on unstable wooden crossings, the new concrete bridges offer more than convenience. They provide safer passage and greater confidence for people moving between communities.
The intervention also has the potential to strengthen local commerce by making it easier for farmers and traders to transport goods and for commercial vehicles to access the area.
Community infrastructure remains an important part of maintaining a constructive relationship between mining companies and host communities. Where roads, bridges and other basic infrastructure are improved, communities are better positioned to connect with markets and essential services.
For Bonla and Lugbehyee residents, the immediate priority is simple: safer and more reliable access.
The new bridges have replaced precarious crossings with permanent concrete structures, helping to remove one of the physical barriers that residents have faced for years.
As AML continues its operations in Nimba, the company’s community development initiatives remain an important part of its engagement with host and neighboring communities, particularly where targeted investments can improve safety, mobility and economic opportunities for local residents.
