By Othello Sarweh Nimely
The Liberian government’s recently launched four-lane highway from Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties to the Sierra Leone border has come under spotlight, with Representative Sumo Mulbah arguing that a two-lane highway would be more preferable and cost-effective.
The lawmaker has accordingly urged the Government to reconsider the planned four-lane project in order to save resources.
His concerns are contained in a letter addressed to President Joseph Boakai and the Ministry of Public Works, and posted on social media.
According to Rep. Mulbah, the Bomi–Grand Cape Mount corridor lacks the traffic volume and population density needed to justify a four-lane highway, arguing the route is unlikely to experience traffic levels requiring such expansion, even in the coming decades.
He instead urged the government to redesign the project as a durable two-lane highway, noting that the road from the bolder toward Sierra Leone is a standard two-lane.
“Liberia should adopt a similarly practical approach rather than committing significant financial resources to a wider highway that may not be fully utilized,” he said.
Rep. Mulbah who represents District 3 in Montserrado County recommended to the government to reserve the proposed four-lane expansion for the heavily congested Duala-to-Iron Gate corridor, where traffic congestion remains a major challenge, while constructing the remaining stretch from Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties to the Sierra Leone border as a two-lane highway.
Mulbah argued that reducing the scale of the border highway would free up substantial financial resources that could instead be invested in strategic urban road projects, including the long-discussed Barnesville–SKD Boulevard to Sinkor road connection.
He said completing critical urban road links would help ease chronic congestion on Somalia Drive and improve the overall transportation network within Monrovia.
The District #3 Representative noted that the extensive land clearing already underway along the western corridor suggests the government intends to proceed with a four-lane highway. While welcoming efforts to improve road connectivity to Liberia’s western border, he questioned whether the proposed design accurately reflects the country’s current transportation needs.
Beyond the highway proposal, Mulbah also expressed concern about the long-term durability of Liberia’s road infrastructure. He argued that heavy-duty trucks transporting iron ore from mining concessions pose a far greater threat to public highways than ordinary passenger vehicles.
He warned that continued use of newly paved highways by concession trucks would accelerate road deterioration, significantly shortening the lifespan of costly infrastructure investments.
To address the issue, Mulbah proposed the development of a state-owned railway system dedicated to transporting mineral exports while also serving the general public.
Under his proposal, mining companies would use the railway network to transport iron ore to port facilities, reducing pressure on national highways. The same rail system, he said, could also provide affordable long-distance transportation for passengers and traders across the country.
The lawmaker said his recommendation followed a recent trip to Sierra Leone, during which he traveled through Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties while accompanying efforts related to the arrest of a suspect accused of killing his girlfriend in Liberia before allegedly fleeing across the border into Sierra Leone.
As of Thursday, the Government of Liberia had not responded publicly to Representative Mulbah’s letter or indicated whether it would consider his recommendations.
However, the government has already broken ground for the highway project in recent months, raising questions about whether any changes to the design will be made before construction advances further.
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