Tubmanburg, Bomi – Residents of Maher Town, located along the Tubmanburg-to-Monrovia highway, are in a state of alarm following reports of unusual sounds emanating from the Maher River Bridge.
By Jaheim T. Tumu – [email protected]
The bridge, constructed in the 1970s, holds a grim history, having served as a site of violence during Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict. Residents are now raising concerns over mysterious noises that are typically heard during the evening and nighttime hours.
They fear these could be warning sounds that the bridge has outlive it lifespan and could collapse anytime soon.
Coleman Gray, the town chief of Maher Community, voiced the fears of his community during an interview with journalists. “Since last year, the bridge has been making strange noises, which have caused great fear among us,” Gray said. He noted that these unsettling sounds primarily occur in the evening and at night, and the situation appears to be worsening daily.
“This is the first time we’ve experienced such sounds from the Maher River Bridge since it was built over sixty years ago,” Gray added, stressing the need for immediate action.
Gray called on the Government of Liberia to intervene, urging the Ministry of Public Works to conduct a thorough inspection of the bridge to address the community’s growing concerns.
Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe has announced plans to visit the area today to speak with locals and assess the situation firsthand.
Meanwhile, a resident of Bomi County, Merak Festo Tarque, took to Facebook to echo the community’s concerns. “Where are the Public Works people? Please listen to the Bomi people, especially those in Maher, about the bridge connecting Klay and Tubmanburg,” Tarque posted.
FrontPageAfrica reached out to the Ministry of Public Works for a comment, but as of press time, no response had been received.