Daniel Travis, the US ambassador-designate to Sierra Leone, has confirmed that an agreement is in place with American firm Acrow Corporation of Pennsylvania to design and build the Lungi Bridge.
The news comes from Travis’s recent Senate testimony. He pointed to the deal as a key example of growing US commercial ties with Sierra Leone. The government and Acrow signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2025.
Under a build-own-operate-transfer model, Acrow will finance, construct, and run the bridge for a set period before handing it over to Sierra Leone. The company has more than 70 years of experience building bridges in over 150 countries, including many in Africa.
The roughly 7-8 kilometre bridge will link Freetown directly to Lungi International Airport. Today the trip often takes hours by ferry or the long road route. Once complete, travel times should drop sharply, easing movement for passengers, goods, and business.
This fits the current US approach of focusing more on investment and trade with African partners rather than traditional aid.
The project is expected to create jobs, support tourism, and boost the local economy while generating significant US exports. Sierra Leoneans have waited years for this connection. Construction details and timelines will follow as the agreement moves forward.
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