New Terminal Under Construction at Roberts International Airport
A Promise Fulfilled: Liberian Government Breaks Ground for New Terminal Building at Roberts International Airport!
The Government of Liberia has signed a US$50 Million loan agreement with China Exim Bank for the construction of a new terminal building at the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
In a brief statement, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhang Yue said the Loan Agreement signing ceremony for rehabilitation is an immediate follow-up project following the visit of President Sirleaf to China sometimes ago, when the rehabilitation of the Roberts International Airport was high on their agenda, during bilateral talks. Ambassador Zhang Yue indicated that it was during the height of the outbreak of Ebola in the country, that he became aware of how the free flow of people is very much important. He said the project, at the cost $50 million, when completed will accommodate approximately 32,000 persons and their logistics.
He termed the rehabilitation endeavor as a miracle for the Liberia—China Cooperation, and expressed joy that during their recent National Day celebration, the People Republic of China was delighted to have heard from the Government of Liberia reiterating its support for the “One China Policy”, which the current administration is upholding satisfactorily.
“We will see China’s quality and speed in doing this work,” Ambassador Zhang assured President Sirleaf and officials of government attending the signing ceremony. The airport’s runway rehabilitation is expected to take about 5 to 6 months, while the terminal rehabilitation is expected to last for at least 10 months.
The landmark signing ceremony was graced by several government officials including the Chinese delegation headed by its Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Yue.
The new terminal layout will be arranged in one and a half floors. The first floor will include a check-in hall, inspection area, waiting area, arrival hall, baggage claim area, baggage handling rooms, equipment rooms and other offices. The second floor will include waiting and departure area, commercial area, etc. Check-in, immigration, security screening will be conducted on the first floor. Departing passengers will arrive to a waiting area on the second floor by escalators, elevators and stairs to await their flights.
There will be two connecting tunnels from the terminal building to landed aircraft eliminating need for passengers to walk on the ground.
On the first floor, facilities such as accessory service, commercial areas, and equipment rooms will also be arranged. The baggage claim hall is linked to the arriving hall by custom lounge with a short-cut passage, along which, six check-in counters will be arranged in a row. In addition, there are 3 departure immigration counters, 2 passenger security screening counters, as well as other facilities such as inquiry counter, reserved unmanned check-in counter, other necessary service room, commercial area and vertical transportation.
The second floor is for departure and will be divided into waiting area and commercial service areas. The waiting hall is arranged in linear so that after security screening, passengers will enter the waiting area through the commercial area, to increase the potential airport business revenue.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf along with Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Zhang Yue, breaks ground for construction of new terminal building at Roberts International Airport.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf receives a concept picture of new RIA terminal from a member of Chinese delegation while Chief of Protocol, R.L. Ambassador Jervis Witherspoon, looks on.