By: Contributing Writer
BUCHANAN, GRAND BASSA COUNTY – Global steel giant ArcelorMittal has reconditioned and handed over an overhead bridge—known as the “Kilometer 2.5 Bridge”—to the people of Grand Bassa County.
The newly modernized bridge connects Buchanan to ArcelorMittal’s operational site, where unprocessed iron ore is offloaded for shipment.
Valued at approximately US$700,000, the bridge was fully funded by ArcelorMittal as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Head of Sustainability and External Affairs, Marcus Wleh, emphasized the bridge’s significance to both the company and the local community.
“We are reopening the bridge and dedicating the road that we have reconditioned. As far back as 2018, we started experiencing technical issues with this road. For safety reasons, we had to shut down the bridge. It was a painful process for everyone,” Wleh said.
“Working with the County Superintendent, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Government of Liberia, we were able to achieve this important milestone. So the bridge is open—it’s ready.”
According to Wleh, the bridge was critical to reopen, as it serves as a vital public access route used daily by local residents and the company alike.
Moses Henry, Development Officer for Grand Bassa County, expressed gratitude to ArcelorMittal for the project and urged the company to consider reconstructing an additional, alternative bridge to further benefit the people of Bassa.
“I want to thank ArcelorMittal for this bridge project. The road is now passable. It would be even better if we could work on the other bridge. As a county, we will return to AML—our partner—to discuss that possibility,” Henry said.
Henry added that beginning in June, no heavy equipment will be allowed to travel through the main streets of Buchanan City, making it even more urgent to rehabilitate the alternative bridge.
“Next month, we will be closing the road and will not allow heavy equipment in the city center. So, we are appealing to you to fix the other bridge,” he said.
Located 2.5 kilometers from Buchanan Port, the bridge connects AML’s operations with surrounding communities, including Koruah, District Hole, More Town, Baconie, and the Sunset Beach area.
Though technically a public asset, the bridge plays a critical role in facilitating both community transport and ArcelorMittal’s iron ore railway operations from Mount Tokadeh to the port.
In 2018, AML engineers raised concerns about visible cracks on the bridge’s piers. A joint assessment conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and AML confirmed the structure was nearing collapse, posing a significant threat to public safety and mining operations. However, the government cited a lack of funding for repairs at the time.
In response, AML commissioned an independent consultant in 2019. The report revealed worsening structural damage and warned of imminent danger to motorists, pedestrians, and company operations.
With no alternative funding sources available, AML spearheaded the effort to restore the bridge. Following high-level consultations with government officials and local stakeholders, the company implemented a comprehensive plan that included rerouting traffic, raising public safety awareness, and pursuing a permanent structural redesign.
In 2023, AML subcontracted global engineering firm AFCONS to carry out the rehabilitation. The work was completed by February 2024, and the bridge was formally handed over to AML for operational integration—representing a total investment of approximately US$700,000.
