Sankwep Bridge opens, bridging 15,000 to Govt services

By JASON SOM KAUT
MORE than 15,000 people in the Nabak local level government (LLG) of Morobe’s Nawaeb district will now have better access to Government services and markets following the opening of the Sankwep Bridge.
Villages braved the hot sun last Thursday to witness Nawaeb MP Timothy Bonga, provincial authorities, church representatives and a delegation from the Works Department officiate at the opening.
The bridge was damaged four years ago after a truck belonging to a leading builder and contractor in Lae crossed over with an overload of cut timber.
Since then, villagers have had to build temporary log bridges, change trucks to cross over or cross the mighty Busu River to access Government services and move produce to markets.
While challenging the people to look after the bridge, Mr Bonga urged them to be serious in agriculture to access funds through the national agriculture development plan.
He assured the people that there would be more projects carried out in Nawaeb if there was good support and cooperation between the people and Government.
The bridge was funded from emergency funding secured from the Government through the Works Ministry and built by British steel bridge building company Mabey & Johnson.