Residents of Simbaru and Wandor Chiefdoms are witnessing a long-awaited change as the newly completed Garwama–Gendema Bridge officially opens to the public. For the first time in decades, communities on both sides of the river can move freely without depending on the ageing ferry system that had served the area for more than fifty years.The bridge forms part of a $30 million project funded jointly by the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone. Constructed by Sino-Hydro Bureau 9 JV Construction Company, it is one of four new bridges designed to strengthen regional connectivity and ease the movement of people, goods, and services across the country.For local farmers and traders, the impact is immediate. The old ferry was slow, unpredictable, and frequently overwhelmed by the volume of daily traffic. Delays often meant missed market days, spoiled produce, and increased transport costs.With the new structure now in place, vehicles can cross within minutes, opening a clear path from the eastern district of Kenema to the country’s northern corridor.
Community members say the change feels nothing short of transformative. Business owners anticipate easier access to new markets. Transport operators expect shorter travel times and reduced costs. Farmers in particular welcome the opportunity to move rice, cocoa, coffee, vegetables, and other produce without the fear of long queues or ferry breakdowns.
Besides trade, the bridge also carries social benefits. Families that had to spend hours waiting to get across the river can now travel more freely for school, medical care, or community events. The structure provides a reliable link during the rainy season, when rising waters often made ferry crossings dangerous or impossible.
The Garwama–Gendema Bridge is part of a broader national effort to improve road and river networks across Sierra Leone. Planners believe stronger links between districts will encourage internal trade, attract investment, and give farming communities a fair chance to grow.
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The new bridge is more than an infrastructure upgrade for residents of the area who have lived their whole lives in dependence on the old ferry. It means mobility, opportunity, and a fresh sense of inclusion in the country’s development path. The hope now is that the improved access will spark long-term economic activity and bring lasting benefits to the region.
