Heavy rain washes out H’lands Highway in Chimbu

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday 19th December 2011

Story by ZACHERY PER
HEAVY rain last week cut off the Opil section of the Highlands Highway between Waratamba and Dumun junction in Sinasina, Chimbu.
A small creek near the highway burst its banks flooding the highway and washing away a section of the road.
Traffic flow was affected last Wednesday and Thursday.
Lorma Construction, which is working on the highway, repaired the damaged section allowing traffic flow to resume last Friday.
Dumun community leader Bomal Bobby expressed concern that a 3.3km section of the highway between Dumun and Nintul had never been acquired by the government in the initial stage of the highway construction.
He said the stretch of the highway had not been maintained because of the outstanding claims that were covered in the Highlands Highway rehabilitation programme (HHRP).
“The people of Dumun have a genuine case that must be settled ahead of others. I call on the Mori resource consultants to start paying the people of Dumun first,” Bobby said.
He said the continuous rain would cause more problems for highway users as there would be no maintenance on the 3.3km stretch.
He said Kundiawa police, provincial works and the provincial government should address a protest they staged in Dumun recently.
“To date no Ahing pAositive has transpired,” Bobby said.
It is understood Mori consultants will be paying landowners outstanding claims along the Chimbu section of the highway.