The Sierra Leonean government opens bids this week seeking $2 billion for the construction of a bridge linking the capital Freetown to Lungi airport. The information was reported by Reuters which quotes President Julius Maada Bio (photo).

Once completed, the 7-km facility will ease access to the country’s only airport which is so far only accessible by boat or helicopter. The Lungi airport is separated from the capital by the Rokel River’s mouth (about 5 km wide).

Works are scheduled to last four to five years and will be funded through a public-private partnership. Let’s note this project comes out several months after the government cancelled a contract for the construction of a new airport ($318 million) by China. At that time, authorities said the project was not worthy and pointed out the lack of transparency in the contract awarding.

This time, President Bio reassured he will ensure transparency in the whole process. “I will closely monitor the entire process and ensure that each offer is compliant and that each offer is in Sierra Leone's best long-term interest,” he said.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou