The Tabubil to Telefomin missing link road that is co-funded by Ok Tedi Mine Ltd and the PNG Government is a three-year project that will cost K60 million.
Apart from that, there are other ongoing routine maintenance projects in all four regions of the country, where the Works Department’s Plant Transport Division is partnering with development authorities, like Talasea in WNB and Koroba-Lake Kopiago, to deliver their rural and district roads.
Works Secretary David Wereh, in giving an update on the road works, said the Government is committed to ensuring that all highways are open for movement of goods and services.
Among those important rehabilitation works is the ADB Bridging program where six bridges’ major culverts will be built along the Ramu-Madang Highway.
Last weekend the culvert at Tapo was washed out. However, Wereh said Ramu-Madang Highway road has been open reopen for public use.
The Highlands Highway was the first in the country to get a K3 billion ADB loan program called the sustainable highlands highway improvement program. This will rehabilitate 430km of civil works and bridge replacement program in five provinces of Morobe, EHP, Simbu, Jiwaka and WHP for a duration of 10 years.
The Boluminski Highway from Kavieng to Namatanai districts in New Ireland Province is being delivered under the Australia Transport Sector Support Program and will be open in April.
JICA has completed two major bridges in Kimbe-Bialla Highway whilst work is progressing on other than 12 smaller bridges along the New Britain Highway funded under ADB program.
Wereh said currently the World Bank program is funding works along the Hiritano Highway; Vaimauri-Bereina station in Central Province, the East Cape in Milne Bay Province and the Hula Road along the Magi Highway.
There are other ongoing works like the Lae-Nadzab, Mt Hagen Kagamuga-Keltiga four lane and ExxonMobil Tax Credit Scheme road upgrades in Hela Province.
(Kapiura Bridge in Bialla)