Department of Works Secretary

The project covers the road from Kreer Junction to Maprik.

The project includes essential maintenance works such as drainage clearing, culvert replacement, pavement repairs, pothole patching, and resealing. Australia is also funding the supervision of this project.

Department of Works Secretary, David Wereh, sees this project as an important step towards delivering safer, more reliable roads for PNG.

“The Department is putting maintenance first to ensure that our national priority roads are maintained to continue to connect businesses and communities,” he said.

The damage section is at Guo which is few kilometres outside of Kundiawa provincial capital.

This is the same section of the highway in Simbu Province which was damaged by landslide in January.

 At the moment a temporary bypass has been created by the Chimbu-based Kaiaworks Construction under the supervision of the Works Department.

Wereh did not reveal the amount paid to the contractor for maintenance of the highway.

This followed the signing of the K134. 8 million contract in Port Moresby today, by the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and contractor – China Railway International (CRI) to do road works from Wau – Bulolo Junction to Yalu Bridge in Morobe Province.

Department of Works Secretary David Wereh said the road works will start after the preliminary meeting between the contractor and DOW.     

 “What we are signing is an ongoing program, (of the) 5 year program to deliver the Lae to Nadzab road.