It is nearly a week after the global steel giant, ArcelorMittal Liberia, made available critical supplies that ensured the St. John Bridge was repaired.
In a random interview with Ablejay TV on Saturday, residents of the St. John area expressed delight over the support and collaboration that saw the bridge being repaired.
Matthew Dolo, a motorcyclist, said to Ablejay, “We are very happy for this bridge repair, and we want to thank ArcelorMittal and the government for making the work to happen.”
He added that motorcyclists in the county were concerned about the state of the bridge from June 3 when it was reported damaged. “Great work has been done on the bridge by ArcelorMittal, and we were not expecting this this one,” Dolo asserted.
He continued, “I want to tell ArcelorMittal and the government thank you and God bless the company because I was very surprised when I went under the bridge to see the work that was done there.”
Matthew said he had thought that it would have taken a long time to repair the bridge, but with teamwork from AML the rehabilitation lasted for a short period.
A woman, identified as Ada Nagbe, said she was grateful that ArcelorMittal provided the support for the county and its people.
One of those interviewed, only identified as Whea, is quoted as saying, “I want to first of all extend thanks and appreciation to them for doing a very good job on the bridge. I drove on it before the very day it had the problem. I was going to Monrovia and I had to put all the passengers down and drive past the bridge in my car alone, but right now everybody can remain on the car and you drive along.”
Recent report of cracks on the bridge that links Grand Bassa to the country’s only international airport and the Monrovia metropolitan area caused fear and prevented movement of goods and services.
A few days later, prices of basic consumables started to sour, raising concern over food and exchange rate inflation. But in a matter of days, ArcelorMittal, the private-sector leader in Liberia, collaborated with other companies and the Ministry of Public Works to get the important bridge restored to full public function.