Collapsed Bunum Wo bridge in Jiwaka under construction

THE National Road Authority and the Works Department are rebuilding the Bunum Wo bridge in North Waghi, in Jiwaka, at an estimated cost of K2 million.
The bridge was washed away during a flood in March.
National Road Authority Highlands road maintenance engineer Poiya Kelly and project engineer Presley Gean said Tri-Civil Pacific Contractors had been engaged to fix the bridge. Kelly and Gean were yesterday with Tri-Civil Pacific Contractors civil engineer Josephine Kawage at the bridge where workers and machines started clearing the debris.
Kelly said the bridge connected an important road between Jiwaka and Western Highlands.
The contractor will build a double bailey bridge and is awaiting material to be transported up from Lae. Kawage said she saw the pain and suffering of the people after the bridge was washed away.
“Clearing and river draining is starting now. In the next two weeks, we will create a bypass for light vehicles to access,” she said.
The Banz-Kotna road is undergoing a maintenance programme funded by the authority for K9.8 million.
Community leader John Brian Nepi thanked the Works Department and National Road Authority for engaging the company to build the bridge.
“I am very confident that Josephine Kawage is our own daughter and engineer, so under her coordination we will see a quality bridge delivered,” Nepi said.
“The community will take ownership of this project. They will protect the machinery and the workers.”