“Building bridges is important, also between nations”, said EU-Ambassador Manuel Müller. “It is not by coincidence that on the back of all Euro banknotes you will find drawings of bridge constructions. What we witness today here in Magbele also is part of a huge program of building bridges between nations, as this road is part of a network connecting the whole of West Africa. The European Union believes in the ‘Global Gateway’.” he said.
Underscoring the significance of the EU – Sierra Leone partnership, Ambassador Müller noted that beyond Magbele, Mabang, Moyamba and Bandajuma bridges, the EU and Sierra Leone have successfully worked on many road infrastructure improvements. This includes roads such as the Masiaka-Bo highway that involved the widening of seven bridges, 85 km of road along the Freetown-Conakry highway, the Makeni-Kabala highway, 75Km of feeder roads in Koinadugu, Tonkolili and Bombali among several others.
Ambassador Müller pointed out that the EU also cooperates with Sierra Leone in other critical sectors such as education, governance, decentralisation, agriculture, environment, rural electrification, the management of public finances and other important priorities of the Government in line with the country’s National Development Plan.
President Dr Julius Maada Bio thanked the European Union for significantly contributing to the infrastructural development projects throughout the country. He said that the cooperation between the EU and Sierra Leone has picked on a new vibrancy, because of the government’s shared belief that by collaborating closely and doing things transparently, real results can be achieved and the live of Sierra Leoneans can be transformed.
Engineer Amara Kanneh, Director General of Sierra Leone Roads Authority, foresees the bridge to last for 100 years, highlighting the ambitious and impactful importance of this project.
The Magbele bridge construction is part of the 48 million Euros Moyamba-Moyamba Junction Road and Bridges Project. This project includes the construction of four bridges across the Gbaingbaia River, Yambatui River, Rokel River and the Ribi River funded under the 11th European Development Fund, under the supervision of the National Authorising Office in the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
