AYV News, September, 12, 2024

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Bockarie Abdel Aziz Bawoh has told newsmen that the Lungi Bridge, envisioned by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to connect Freetown and Lungi, remains a strong aspiration of the President.

He said discussions exploring the project’s feasibility with investors are ongoing.

Reports say the Government of Sierra Leone has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Road and Bridge Corporation and the architectural firm Atépa Group for the construction of the Freetown-Lungi Bridge.

The MoU was signed in Freetown, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development.

The 8-kilometer-long bridge, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, is a key part of President Julius Maada Bio’s “Big 5” agenda to enhance technology and infrastructure in Sierra Leone.

The bridge will connect the capital, Freetown, with the Lungi airport hub, significantly easing transportation for both international and local travelers. This project aims to drive sustained economic growth and will complement the newly commissioned ultramodern airport at Lungi, which opened on March 3, 2023, at a cost of $270 million.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, a Fortune 500 company ranked 61st, is one of the world’s largest engineering and construction firms, operating in over 50 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

The Atépa Group, known for its globally renowned architectural projects, has designed landmarks such as the Banjul Airport in Gambia, the BCEAO headquarters in Dakar, Senegal, and the Monument of the Renaissance in Dakar.

A feasibility study for the Freetown-Lungi Bridge is set to be completed in the coming months. If all goes as planned, construction is expected to commence in December 2024 and will take approximately three years to complete.