For nearly three decades, crossing the St. John River between Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba counties was a daily ordeal that tested courage and cost lives. What should have been a vital link instead became a dangerous passage, forcing residents to risk everything just to move from one county to another.
Motorcyclists, traders, farmers, students, and elderly citizens all shared painful memories of the deteriorated bridge.
“Old people never used to cross at all,” recalled one bike rider. “It was only for us the youth, and even then, I tell you straight—it was really dangerous.”
Another resident, Samuel Zeopugar, described the frustration and fear that defined daily life around the bridge.
“If you think I’m lying, ask anyone around this entire St. John. People from Nimba, Buchanan, Compound #3, and other places spent hours here crossing their things one by one.”
That long-standing nightmare has now ended.
A few weeks ago, ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) completed the full rehabilitation and refurbishment of the St. John Access Road Bridge, restoring safety, dignity, and economic connectivity to thousands of Liberians. The newly refurbished bridge, painted in striking yellow and black, now allows motorists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists to cross with ease, while dozens of ArcelorMittal train wagons pass safely overhead. The structure also includes a dedicated pedestrian walkway, adding an extra layer of safety for community members.
The bridge was formally dedicated on Friday, December 10, 2025, at Fendell Diggs Town (Kilometre 94), in a ceremony attended by local authorities from Grand Bassa and Bong counties, lawmakers, community leaders, and officials of ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Originally constructed in 1960 by the Liberian American Mining Company (LAMCO), the St. John Bridge was designed to connect Bong County to Grand Bassa County, serving as a crucial link between Liberia’s interior and the coastal port city of Buchanan. Over the years, however, the bridge suffered extensive wear and tear due to lack of maintenance, a situation worsened by the civil war. By the end of the conflict, the bridge had become notoriously unsafe, with reports of severe structural weakness, near-collapse, fatal accidents, and destruction of property.
Recognizing the importance of the bridge to regional development and community life, ArcelorMittal Liberia voluntarily undertook its complete rehabilitation, despite the project not being an obligation under its mineral development agreement.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Julius Saywala, Superintendent of Sub-Structure Maintenance at ArcelorMittal Liberia, said the completion of the St. John Access Road Bridge reflects the company’s dedication and passion to undertake projects that improve the lives of communities within its areas of operation.
Rehabilitation works officially began on July 1, 2025. A workforce of 50 community members and 20 technicians, working alongside eight ArcelorMittal Liberia engineers, labored through difficult rainy-season conditions to rehabilitate the 240-meter bridge. According to Saywala, the team deployed high-grade safety materials to overcome the risks associated with working at height, over water, and under adverse weather conditions.
The scope of work included the replacement of 800 bridge sleepers, insertion and welding of high steel beams, installation of timber running boards, reinforcement of the bridge’s rigidity, erection of road guards and pedestrian walkways, and the construction of reinforced concrete pavement at both ends of the bridge.
Local leaders at the ceremony praised ArcelorMittal Liberia for its commitment to completing the project, and applauded the exceptional performance of the engineers and workers who made the rehabilitation possible. Among those present were Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Hawa Norris, and Representatives Alfred Quennah and Alfred Flomo.
Speaking on behalf of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Executive Officer, Community Relations Manager, Vaani Kiazolu, thanked the surrounding communities for their cooperation throughout the rehabilitation process, noting that the project could not have been completed without their support. He also expressed appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for providing an enabling environment that allows private sector partners to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Kiazolu urged residents to take collective responsibility for the bridge’s maintenance, emphasizing that it belongs to everyone.
“This bridge is for all of us,” he said. “The most important thing now is how we maintain it. This was not an MDA obligation.”
He emphasized that ArcelorMittal Liberia undertook the renovation to further demonstrate its strong corporate citizenship and its commitment to community development beyond mining operations.
With the rehabilitation of the St. John Bridge, farmers can now transport produce more easily, traders can move goods safely, students can travel without fear, and communities once divided by danger are reconnected. For the people of Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba counties, the bridge is more than steel and concrete—it is a restored lifeline. For ArcelorMittal Liberia, it stands as a powerful symbol of partnership, responsibility, and shared progress.
