A former Commissioner of the Township of Caldwell, Benoni Tarr Grimes says the Caldwell Bridge is a time bomb and if nothing is urgently done by the Government of Liberia to have the bridge reconstructed in the shortest possible time, it may collapse. Mr. Grimes expressed fear that the bridge is a major bridge that is leading and connecting to other parts of the city and if that bridge collapses, it will create serious problem as the township of Caldwell and other cities beyond Caldwell would be disconnected from Monrovia and its environs.  Mr. Grimes who just returned from the United States of America recalled that the Caldwell Bridge was constructed many years ago alongside the Waterside Bridge that is presently being reconstructed by CICO, a Chinese Construction Company. 

In an exclusive interview with the INQUIRER on Wednesday Mr. Grimes who is also a major advocate on the Caldwell Road, stressed the need for the Minister of Public Works, Kofi Woods and the Liberian Leader, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to urgently reconstruct the Caldwell Bridge which poses a serious threat to the residents within that township.  According to him, all of the steel rods and metals that were made to connect the bridge have fallen apart and if nothing is urgently done to ensure that the bridge is reconstructed the residents would feel the greater weight as they would be cut off from other parts of the city.

“Caldwell Bridge is a time bomb and can collapse at anytime. If that happens, the people will suffer and hardship will engulf that township. Let the President give priority to that bridge,” he said in a serious mood.  As a result of the poor condition of the Caldwell Bridge, the Liberian Government in recent time put a halt on heavy vehicles plying that bridge for fear of unfortunate situation that could make the bridge to cave in. At the same time, the residents of that community have pleaded with the Liberian Government on numerous occasions to reconstruct the Caldwell Bridge. Presently, vehicles now form queue and move on the bridge one at a time instead of the double movement of vehicles that existed prior to the poor condition of the bridge.

When the Minister of Public Works was contacted on the issue, he said efforts are being made to reconstruct the bridge. Minister Woods said the necessary paper work is being put together to construct the bridge.   The former Commissioner who is visiting the country got two Masters in Education Administration, with emphasis on Education Development in Africa from the University of St. Mary in Minnesota, USA. Mr. Grimes who graduated from the University of Liberia in the late 90s with a bachelor of arts in public administration is presently doing his Doctorates in Education Leadership.