Communities restore neglected road

By DOROTHY MARK
Communities in inland Sumkar district, Madang, have decided to restore a road neglected for 30 years to overcome difficulties caused by the collapsed Banab Bridge.
People living in Kudas, Wasab, Yoidig and other villages along the old road led by former Madang governor James Yali began work yesterday to clear the abandoned gravel road covered in bush.
Yali said the road connected Kusein village near the Mugil Health Centre to Banab village. It runs through to the Kabilmas Primary School in Matugar inland near Wasab and linked Banab village.
He said there were four creeks and people used logs to cross them before reaching an old bridge that connected the upper end of Banab River. Vehicles could cross and arrive at Banab village and travel to town.
“I walked and inspected the route on Sunday and it is 3-4km, which is very short,” Yali said.
He said the road was still in good condition but they just had to clear it and place logs across the creeks for people to use as an access road.
Yali said he pitied villagers from Bogia and Sumkar who travelled into town with copra and buai to Banab River and paid extra to transport their loads to the other side.
“Pregnant women, old people and children are transported to the other side by canoes. We don’t know how long that will continue before the bridge is reconstructed,” Yali said.
“That is why we are creating an access for our people but the communities will collect some fees to maintain the route.”
The old Banab Bridge built in 1962 collapsed last Thursday under the weight of a semi-trailer carrying an excavator.
People had to fork out extra to be transported across and pay for loads as well.