Mendi-to-Komo highway spruced up with K150mil tax-credit funds

THE Works Department is repairing and upgrading a section of the Highlands Highway between Mendi in Southern Highlands and Komo in Hela under a K150million infrastructure tax credit arrangement with ExxonMobil PNG Ltd.
Works Secretary David Wereh said in a statement yesterday that the department had spent the last 12 months repairing and upgrading that part of the highway.
“This work is being delivered via a three-year partnership with ExxonMobil PNG under a K150million infrastructure tax credit arrangement,” he said.
Wereh said while the main focus had been upgrading and sealing the section between Halimbu and Komo, as well as general maintenance of the roads in the area, the partnership with ExxonMobil PNG was also responsible for quickly re-establishing access on the highway after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Hela in February.
“The partnership is also working on permanent repairs to the road formation and bridges that were damaged or lost after the earthquake.”
Wereh said despite delays and interruptions due to damage caused by the natural disaster, progress on the upgrade work on the Halimbu to Komo section continued to gain momentum, with some completed sections
expected by the end of this month.
Wereh said the completed programme would significantly improve accessibility to the people of Hela.
“Improving the infrastructure for the Hela is a priority for the government, and this public-private partnership with ExxonMobil PNG is delivering significant benefits to the local people.”
Wereh said the Works Department was committed to working with the local community to achieve progress on this work and asked the local people to participate and work with their construction teams to deliver the infrastructure.