The Department of Works (DoW) has paid K100,000 to landowners to start maintenance and build a by-pass for stranded vehicles on the site of the landslide damaged section of the Highlands Highway in Chimbu Province.
The Guo section of the highway was destroyed last Saturday after a landslide buried debris covering over 100 metres of the road, resulting in vehicles stranded on both sides of the damaged road.
DoW Secretary David Wereh confirmed to Loop PNG yesterday of the payment, a portion of the agreed K500,000 compensation demand.
He said K100,000 was paid to allow a contractor to move in and start work on Wednesday to build a temporary by-pass for vehicles.
Wereh said the landowners demanded K1 million as a form of compensation, but after an assessment and negotiations by the DoW, the landowners agreed to cut their demand by half.
The Works secretary is optimistic the by-pass will be accessible to all types of vehicles today.