Delay in cash flow affecting roadworks

By AILEEN KWARAGU
THERE have been complaints about the amount of money the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) spends on roadworks but Governor Powes Parkop says the city needs durable roads to last more than 20 years.
Parkop said a city like Port Moresby had thousands of vehicles that used these roads daily unlike other towns and provinces.
“Waigani Drive in Moresby North West which was constructed 20 to 30 years ago was already under a lot of pressure,” he said.
He said Waigani Drive was being rehabilitated and resealed to last another 30 years.
He said other roadworks were operating well and would be completed soon.
“The Gerehu sports centre four-lane road to Nikabata Drive in Moresby North West has reached stage five of construction and is within budget and on time.”
The construction was launched in 2020 at the cost of K39 million.
Parkop said the 9-Mile to 14-Mile road construction in Moresby North East was on schedule and would be completed in December.
Parkop acknowledged that there had been complaints about the road not being completed and attributed it to availability of funds.
“Contractors depend on getting paid and NCDC like any government pays many contractors which was why we managed the cash flow and that was the delay,” he said.