Funding released for Lae-Nadzab road maintenance work

WORKS Minister Michael Nali told Parliament yesterday that some funding have been released to start maintenance work on the deteriorating section of the Lae-Nadzab road from 10-Mile to Yalu Bridge in Morobe.
He made the announcement after Tewai-Siassi MP Kobby Bomareo raised the question of the poor state of the road.
Bomareo said the road was in its worst condition, was affecting those who were using the Highlands Highway and was causing many accidents and deaths.
“I thanked the government for the first section of the Lae-Nadzab road which was constructed and is in good condition,” he said.
“But the road from 10-Mile to Yalu Bridge is in a very bad state.
“Can the minister tell us what plans and actions there are to fix and maintain that road while waiting for the completion of the second phase of the four-lane Lae-Nadzab road?”
Nali said the first section of the Lae-Nadzab road was done by China Railway International (CRI) and the government owed the company money, but from 10-Mile to Nadzab, the same company has got the contract.
“But due to the cash-flow situation, the little money we get from Treasury, we have other outstanding debts which we are slowly paying off. Just last week we paid some money to CRI so that section from 10-Mile to Yalu Bridge to Nadzab will start and CRI has already been advised to do some basic maintenance work to ensure the roads are in good condition for traffic,” Nali said.
Nali did not disclose the exact amount Government owed CRI but said it was a lot.