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MONROVIA, Liberia — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Friday, July 3, 2026, broke ground on a 1.9-kilometer extension of the Japan Freeway from the Freeport of Monrovia to the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, a project he described as critical to Liberia’s trade and mobility.
The US$16 million, or Japanese Yen 2.7 billion, project is financed entirely through Japan’s Grant Aid and will be implemented by Dai Nippon Construction Co., Ltd. and Eight-Japan Engineering Consultants Inc., with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA.
Calling the corridor “the lifeline of Liberia’s economy,” President Boakai said the road links the nation’s principal seaport to the capital and its suburbs, and carries most of the daily movement of people, goods, and regional trade. The extension will feature climate-resilient infrastructure designed to address chronic flooding, with upgraded drainage, durable pavement, improved lighting, pedestrian safety measures, and better traffic flow.
The President said the project aligns with his Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes infrastructure as a driver of economic transformation and job creation. He noted the construction phase is expected to create about 175 direct jobs for Liberians, plus additional opportunities for local suppliers, transport operators, and businesses along the route.
Boakai also used the ceremony to reaffirm Liberia’s partnership with Japan, which he said has supported roads, bridges, ports, health, education, and agriculture over decades. The corridor, formerly known as Somalia Drive, was rebuilt with Japanese assistance and later renamed the Japan Freeway “as a permanent tribute to this partnership.”
He urged residents, businesses, and commuters to cooperate during construction and directed the Ministry of Public Works to maintain professional oversight. The President officially declared the extension launched after the groundbreaking at the Freeport of Monrovia.
