Stakeholders Validate Draft National Tolling and Axle Load Control Policy to Strengthen Liberia’s Road Infrastructure
By: Laymah Kollie
MONROVIA, July 16,2026 – A two-day National Validation Workshop on Liberia’s Draft National Tolling and Axle Load Control Policy and Practical Guidance Note has concluded in Monrovia, with stakeholders reaching broad consensus on measures aimed at improving sustainable road financing, protecting the country’s road network, and strengthening governance in the transport sector.
The July 14–15 workshop was organized by IT Transport Limited and Infrastructure & Procurement Consultants Liberia Limited (IPCLL) with funding from the World Bank, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Transport, development partners, the private sector, civil society organizations, and transport stakeholders.
The workshop focused on validating the draft policy and practical guidance note, which was developed following technical assessments, stakeholder consultations, data collection, and reviews of international best practices.
Participants reviewed key aspects of the proposed framework, including tolling policies, axle load management, road financing mechanisms, institutional arrangements, legal and governance structures, environmental and social safeguards, revenue accountability, and phased implementation strategies.
According to the workshop organizers, the validation exercise was designed to ensure that the final document reflects Liberia’s development priorities while providing a practical framework for protecting road infrastructure from premature deterioration caused by overloaded vehicles.
During the opening session, Acting Minister of Public Works and Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Prince D. Tambah Sr., described the workshop as a critical step toward building a modern and financially sustainable transport sector.
He said while Liberia has made significant progress in expanding its road infrastructure with support from development partners, preserving those investments remains an equally important challenge.
“We must transition from a system that focuses primarily on constructing roads to one that equally prioritizes sustainable road asset management,” Tambah said, emphasizing that the country must shift “from managing projects to managing assets.”
He noted that roads, bridges, and transport corridors play a vital role in connecting communities, facilitating trade, improving access to healthcare and education, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
The Acting Minister stressed that sustainable transport systems require strong institutions, predictable maintenance financing, effective governance, professional engineering, and long-term asset management.
Throughout the two-day discussions, participants examined technical recommendations and implementation strategies through six thematic sessions covering policy objectives, traffic analysis, financing mechanisms, tolling infrastructure, institutional responsibilities, governance, revenue management, environmental safeguards, risk management, and capacity building.
Each presentation was followed by plenary discussions that allowed participants to identify gaps, propose revisions, and recommend practical solutions for improving the draft policy.
Organizers said the workshop sought to validate all major sections of the draft guidance note, agree on institutional responsibilities, endorse key policy recommendations, and develop a roadmap for finalizing the document.
Although stakeholders reached agreement on several key issues during the discussions, organizers disclosed that the recommendations gathered over the two days will be consolidated into a formal workshop communiqué and validation resolution before being released to the public in the coming days.
At the close of the workshop, representatives of the World Bank, the Ministry of Transport, and other development partners commended participants for their active engagement and technical contributions, describing their insights as critical to strengthening the final policy document.
Once finalized, the Draft National Tolling and Axle Load Control Policy and Practical Guidance Note is expected to provide the foundation for future policy, legislative, and operational reforms aimed at establishing an effective tolling system, improving axle load control, strengthening accountability in road revenue management, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Liberia’s road infrastructure.
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