Sierra Leone and Liberia are set to break ground on a major cross-border road corridor valued at $364 million, a development expected to significantly enhance connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation within the Mano River Union.

The 255-kilometer that will link key economic zones, connecting Montserrado County home to Monrovia to strategic border points between the two countries. The corridor includes a 38-kilometer toll road stretching from St. Paul Bridge to Klay, alongside 217 kilometers of non-toll roads aimed at improving accessibility across multiple regions.

The project has been awarded under a 25-year Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) concession to Pavifort Al Ltd, a Sierra Leonean construction firm. Under the arrangement, Pavifort will finance 60 percent of the project, while the Government of Liberia will contribute the remaining 40 percent through its National Road Fund, supported by a $100 million guarantee.

Speaking on the development, Pavifort’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alimou Sanu Barrie, described the initiative as a milestone for Sierra Leonean engineering, emphasizing the company’s commitment to delivering the project to international standards.

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The road corridor forms part of Liberia’s 2025–2029 Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes infrastructure expansion as a key driver of economic growth. Current data highlights the urgency of such investments, with over 88 percent of Liberia’s road network remaining unpaved.

According to the World Bank’s Liberia Poverty Assessment 2023, limited road access affects approximately 42 percent of the population, increasing transport costs and restricting access to essential services and markets.

Planned upgrades under the project include the expansion of the St. Paul Bridge–Klay highway into a four-lane carriageway, along with rehabilitation and improvement works on the Klay–Bo Waterside, Klay–Tubmanburg, and Madina Junction–Robertsport routes.

The official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Bo Waterside Border Post and will be jointly officiated by Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, and Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr..

Their participation highlights the strategic importance both governments place on regional infrastructure development and cross-border collaboration.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the initiative is expected to create employment opportunities, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and strengthen economic ties between the two neighboring countries.

For Pavifort, the concession represents a significant step in expanding the role of indigenous firms in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects across the region.