Hela bridge collapses

 By PETER ESOP WARI

A STEEL bridge on the national highway at Nipa station collapsed yesterday forcing semi-trailers travelling to the PNG LNG project site in Hela to turn back.

Only lighter vehicles are able to pass through. Locals helped by heaping stones under the bridge as a foundation and logs to support the portion of the bridge which collapsed.

Eric Kopal, whose house is few metres away from the bridge, said it collapsed at 2am yesterday after  two semi-trailers travelling to Hela passed over it.

He claimed that the continuous movement of heavily vehicles to Hela had worsened the road condition followed by the damage to the bridge.

Hela Provincial Police Commander Supt Jimmy Onopia said heavy vehicles engaged at the PNG LNG project site leaving for Lae wharf had to turn back while lighter vehicles made it through.

Locals from Aron, Karil, Upper, lower and central Nipa also want ExxonMobil and the national government to seal the road from Mendi to Tari.

Em Hep, a public servant, said PNG LNG developer ExxonMobil must honour its agreement signed in Kokopo to seal the road.

Nipa district administrator Joe Periap said the collapse of the bridge was caused by heavy vehicles.

He warned the people to stop harassing motorists by charging hefty amounts of money to pass through the bridge.

Attempts to get a comment from the Works Department in Mendi were unsuccessful.