A bridge in time for Christmas

Highlands

A GROUP of men in the Komasi village along the Konkua road in the Agarabi LLG in Kainantu, Eastern Highlands, have built a temporary bridge linking about 10 villages in the area.
The bridge is located in the Komasi village along the Konkua road It is the only link to the K92 gold mine in the Arona valley.
The bridge was originally built about 80 years ago and was damaged about three months ago when a vehicle slipped down the road and crashed into it.
The men took almost a day last Wednesday to complete a temporary replacement made of timber, which is now being used.
The men led by Konkua road peace mediation officer Duru Kiheta built the temporary bridge with assistance of K92 mine.
Kiheta said that for about three months after the bridge was damaged, PMVs and other vehicles dropped off passengers at either end of the road and the passengers would then carry their cargo across to vehicles at the other side.
Kiheta said the elders in the area came up with the initiative to provide a relief to the villages during the Christmas period, especially those from Billimoia.
“Our only expectation now is a permanent bridge to be built soon because we want our people to have access to basic services and that is why we took the initiative to build the bridge,” Kiheta said.
“We would like to appeal to the responsible authorities to look into the issue and build a permanent bridge soon.”