ArcelorMittal Liberia over the weekend rendered major logistical and technical support to the government, through the Ministry of Public Works, for the rehabilitation of the St. John River Bridge in Grand Bassa County.
Engineers from ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Ministry of Public Works worked around the clock over the weekend and repaired the damaged bearing of the bridge, which for the past weeks impeded normal vehicular movement and led to an increase in the prices of basic commodities in Grand Bassa and other nearby counties.
Upon a request from the Government of Liberia, the AML’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jozephus Coenen, instructed the company’s technical team to give maximum support and to remain engaged until the completion of repairs.
AML’s support to the St. John Bridge rehabilitation included, amongst other things, provision of 200-ton hydraulic jacks, steel plates, supply of rubber membranes, a 10KVA generator, provision of a truck, elephant feet support, cranes, compactor, fuel and manpower.
ArcelorMittal Liberia for the past week provided tents and catered meal services (three times a day) for the security team assigned at the bridge, as well as covered the cost of hotel accommodation and feeding for a five-man technical team from the Ministry of Public Works for the duration of the St. John River Bridge rehabilitation.
AML spokesman, Winston Daryoue, said AML, as a longtime partner of Grand Bassa and the Liberian people, is happy to be providing such support of technical and logistical services.
Daryoue said, “The St. John River Bridge is a major access point, and the work on the bridge was necessary to ensure uninterrupted economic activities in nearby counties.”
Regular vehicular movement over the bridge was affected with heavy-duty vehicles banned. However, normal movement of all vehicles has now resumed.
