The lifespan of the Vaitown bridge dedicated and christened Zolu Duma Bridge last Friday is one century if properly maintained, engineers of the China Henan International Cooperation (CHICO) who constructed the structure have disclosed.
In an exclusive interview, shortly following the opening of the bridge for public use, some of the   engineers told this paper that they were willing to stay on for a year to assist Liberian counterparts on maintenance procedures of the Zolu Duma Bridge.
Shortly before cutting the ribbon to dedicate the bridge, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf warned that   any one caught damaging the fence being   constructed to protect the bridge will face severe punishment.
“The fence will go up and any attempt to destroy it will have a compensatory response,” said President Sirleaf who was flanked by Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and many top government officials during the program.
She urged commuters and pedestrians alike to use the bridge appropriately and protect it against unscrupulous individuals and acts that would shorten its lifespan.
She advised owners of properties along the Mesurado River over which the bridge spans to cooperate with the government in maintenance of the bridge.
“We ask the cooperation of all those who have properties around here to make sure that Monrovia becomes beautiful also like other cities, to make sure that we have presentable city,” she admonished.
The initial amount U$14.5m for the construction of the bridge was   increased to U$16.8m due to change in design from driven piles originally thought to be 1.45m bored piles.
Due to this change, authorities of CICO said they were granted additional days of   extension for completion date set for December 2011 after its construction started on 26 December 2008.
The Zolu Duma Bridge has three spans, with outer spans (70m) and the center span is 100m in length.
It is 240 meters long and 13 meters wide with a cross-section that provides for two 3.6-meter traffic lanes.
President Sirleaf said the government named the structure in honour of the late King Zolu Duma alias King Short Peter, one of Liberia’s traditional rulers, reportedly born in Gaworlon Town, Cape Mesurado in 1771 and died in 1864.
He is credited to have promoted peaceful coexistence between the natives and the settlers during the founding of the Liberian nation.
Zolu Duma, an ethnic Dei, was a well-respected King amongst his people but the settlers quickly named him “King Short Peter” since he was very short in contrast to “King Long Peter”.