Kenema–Zimmi Road Rehabilitation Begins, Boosting Hope for South-Eastern Sierra Leone

The long-awaited rehabilitation and regraveling of the 87-kilometre Kenema–Zimmi Road has officially commenced, sparking widespread optimism among residents, traders, farmers, motorists, and commuters across Sierra Leone’s south-eastern region.

The project is being implemented by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Public Assets and the Road Maintenance Fund Administration.

For years, the Kenema–Zimmi highway has been in a deplorable condition, creating major transportation difficulties, delaying the movement of goods and services, and increasing hardship for communities along the corridor. The commencement of rehabilitation works is therefore being widely welcomed as a major development milestone for the region.

The road is considered a strategic economic corridor linking farming communities, business centres, and cross-border routes toward neighbouring Liberia. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time, improve road safety, enhance trade, and strengthen agricultural distribution networks.

It is also anticipated to generate short-term employment opportunities for local residents during the construction phase, while laying the foundation for long-term economic growth in the south-east.

Residents and stakeholders have described the start of the project as a direct response to years of public concern and advocacy over the poor state of the highway, expressing hope that improved infrastructure will open up markets and boost regional connectivity.

The commencement of the Kenema–Zimmi Road rehabilitation marks another key step in ongoing national efforts to expand infrastructure development and support economic transformation across Sierra Leone.