Connect PNG takes over Wau-Bulolo Highway

THE Government will soon rehabilitate the Wau-Bulolo Highway to be on par with the Highlands Highway under the Connect PNG programme, Works and Highways Minister Solan Mirisim says.
Corporate entities using the highway included the Hidden Valley gold mine, Zenag Chicken Farm, Bulolo Forestry, and the recently-developed Wafi- Golpu mine project.
Mirisim said people from Mumeng, Bulolo,Wau-Waria, Menyamya, Aseki and Kantiba use the highway.
Mirisim, department secretary David Wereh and a team of officers visited the highway last Thursday.
He said the Australian government committed K66 million in 2020 to upgrade and seal the 98km highway, but it was currently in a deplorable state with little progress.
“The Government, under the Connect PNG programme, is embarking on taking full funding and technical responsiblity.
“The contractor has only developed 25km of the 98km, with only pothole-patching and minor works,” Mirisim claimed. “There is no major rehabilitation or upgrade and sealing of the 25km.
“I expect a high standard of work, and our people of Wau Bulolo demand the same.
“By now, we should see full upgrade and rehabilitation work, including sealing done on the Bulolo road; and that is all supposed to happen under the AusAID support programme.
“I want to see the Wau-Bulolo Highway come under Connect PNG.
“We will break up the 98km into four sections and engage reputable contractors to work on this road immediately.”
Mirisim said the highway would connect Kerema in Gulf to Central’s Hiritano Highway and Port Moresby.
He said the plan to intervene would ensure high-quality technical upgrade and rehabilitation.