Liberia on Thursday signed a deal with the China Railroad Service Group for the pavement of a 100-kilometer road linking the northern region of Ganta with the Tappita corridor.

The project is expected to run for 36 months with a defect liability period of one year.

The road will resolve many difficulties locals encounter during the rainy season, Public Works Minister Ruth Coker-Collins said. The Government of Liberia and World Bank have jointly provided $53 million for the road, she said.

Collins also praised the contractor for work carried out in other parts of the country. "They've constructed roads in the Loguatuo corridor of Nimba, and when you see their work, it is impressive," she said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, World Bank Liberia Country Manager Kwima Nthara expressed satisfaction for "the level of cooperation subsisting among stakeholders". Nthara emphasized that road development will increase economic activities, and in turn, improve people's standard of living.

Wang Bo, representative of China Railroad Service Group, thanked the Liberia government for the "confidence reposed in the company". He added that the company will remain committed to the construction of quality roads across Liberia.