Firms: Sub-standard work cause of Madang roads woes

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

LACK of proper maintenance of roads and bridges in Madang have resulted in the current state of affairs, according to the Madang business community.

Chamber of commerce president John Davidson also blamed sub-standard work by contractors engaged by the provincial and national governments.

Davidson’s comments were supported by the co-founder of the Brahman Secondary School, Max David.

Both expatriates, who have served in Madang for many years, voiced their concerns last week.

Davidson said that sub-standard work on the road and bridges had been done by the many contractors was costing taxpayers.

He said the recent sealing of the Madang town roads proved to be “band-aid work” which revealed pot holes in many areas following the recent heavy rains.

“Much of the patching work was being filled with red clay. 

“This is a big mistake as red clay expands with water and the rains are doing just that. 

“The quickly-filled holes only get bigger”, he said.

David, who has seen the destruction of many bridges leading to his remote school, said half-sunk Usema Bridge may soon be washed away.

The Pukpuk, Usema and Maria Bridges are three major bridges located in the Usino Bundi local level government area.

Costing for the maintenance and upkeep of the bridges have been handed to the current district administrator, Jimmy Uguro but help has not been forthcoming and two of those bridges have already collapsed.

David added that the Yakumbu-Brahman road was the shortest access route for Bundi people and the 700 plus students and the public servants living there.

He said the Banu to Bundi and Brahman road was too long and a costly exercise.

“No one at the Works division has any engineering design nor can guess the span for doing any bridge. 

“Trial and error effort does not work. 

“There is not enough planning as the provinces planning boss does not even have a design plan for bridges and roads”, David said.

Business houses depending on the Madang Highway have had to suffer losses during the recent heavy rains.