-As Charlesville Residents Seek Gov’t Intervention
By: Sampat JMB Kpakimah
CHARLESVILLE TOWNSHIP – Residents of Charlesville Township are calling on the Government of Liberia to intervene and replace a deteriorating bridge which they say poses a “serious safety hazard” and the risk of imminent loss of life.
The aging wooden structure, which connects central Charlesville, Snafu Dock, Marshall, Unification City, and surrounding communities, has been in critical condition for more than three months, local leaders say. With seasonal flooding now worsening the situation, residents warn that continued use of the bridge could prove fatal.
“We agreed among stakeholders that the bridge was no longer safe for public use,” said Augustine Tamba, Youth Chairperson of the Charlesville Youth Council, in an exclusive interview. “If we declared it unsafe during the dry season, then with the current overflow, it is even more dangerous now.”
The bridge, originally constructed in 1960, serves as a vital corridor for students, traders, motorists, and access to tourism and research sites, including local chimpanzee sanctuaries. Its deterioration has disrupted daily transportation for thousands, residents say.
Community members are demanding a permanent solution: replacement of the aged wooden structure with a durable concrete bridge. They argue that temporary repairs have repeatedly failed under seasonal pressure and heavy transport loads.
“We are calling on authorities to move beyond assessments,” Tamba said, voicing frustration over what residents describe as a delayed and inadequate response.
Despite two government evaluations—first on March 28, 2026, by Representative Ivar Kokulo Jones alongside the Ministry of Public Works, and later on May 7, 2026, by Margibi County Superintendent O. Jay Morris with the Resident Engineer and Township Commissioner Samuel Willie—no rehabilitation work has followed.
Recent incidents have heightened concerns. In March 2026, a ten-wheel truck loaded with sand plunged into the water while attempting to cross the route. In May, a pickup vehicle reportedly fell into the flooded detour.
Charlesville Township, established in 1934 and home to more than 3,000 residents across 32 towns and villages, hosts major national institutions including the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and Roberts International Airport (RIA). Yet residents say the township continues to suffer from poor infrastructure and limited development.
Bobby Brown, a motorcyclist who relies on the bridge for his livelihood, said the ongoing crisis has made movement difficult. He called on the commissioner for District 2, Lower Margibi, to continue pressing higher authorities for action.
Prince Kamara, a student at Robert Field Baptist School, warned that with the rainy season fast approaching, immediate intervention is needed. “When the bridge is damaged, it will be hard for us,” he said.
Frustrated by the lack of urgency, aggrieved residents and local stakeholders last week blocked access to the bridge entirely—a collective decision. According to Tamba, this was intended to prevent potential loss of life.
