About 500 vehicles remained stranded last night on either side of the Highlands Highway at 11-Mile after the Arafin Bridge gave way to heavy rains early yesterday morning.
Yesterday and today have been chaotic for commuters traveling on the road that links the Highlands Highway into Lae.
And with the Morobe show in Lae this weekend (Oct 15-16), many travelling into the city with goods to sell at the show are hoping to make it in time.
Over 20000 commuters have been at the washed away two-lane bridge since early yesterday morning.
Leo Wafiwa, a former lecturer and strand leader of the UPNG journalism strand, was one of those who spent the night on the Highlands Highway side of the road.
He had been at the washed out bridge since 10am yesterday.
Speaking to Loop PNG from the Arafin market, he said: “Last night they (workmen) were supposed to work on it. We expected them to put floodflights and work on it but…just this morning they started”.
Wafiwa told Loop PNG that some commuters slept in their vehicles while others who had friends or relatives nearby spent the night at their houses.
“People are crossing the river with their cargoes. I saw some people with their bags of cabbages crossing the river to a waiting container truck on the other side of the road.”
While some commuters are clinging on to hope, others, like Wafiwa and his colleagues, have given up.
“We are turning back to Goroka now,” he said.
(Picture source: POMICC Secretariat)