The Africa Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $40.65m grant for upgrading a major trunk road in Sierra Leone.

The road project focuses on improving the 65km Lungi-Port Loko road link between the Lungi International Airport and the capital Freetown.

The project also aims to develop regional trade between the Port Loko district and the rest of the country as well as with Guinea.

About 30km of feeder roads will also be gravelled, enhancing access to markets and farms in the hope of ensuring food security.

The project fully complies with the ADF’s country strategy paper for Sierra Leone which focuses on “supporting pro-poor growth” with emphasis on good governance and infrastructure.

The project complements the European Union-funded Freetown–Conakry road corridor.