K133mil deal signed for nine two-lane bridges

NINE new double-lane concrete bridges of better standard and climate resilient will be built along the Sepik Highway in East Sepik and Madang-Ramu Highway in Madang costing K133 million.
Contract documents were signed in Port Moresby on Friday by the Works Department on behalf of the State and contractor China Overseas Engineering Group Company (PNG) Ltd and Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (PNG) Ltd.
The construction of the bridges by China Overseas Engineering includes three bridges in East Sepik at a cost of K32 million and six along the Ramu-Madang Highway for K88 milion.
Snowy Mountain, an engineering and development consultancy firm, won the contract to project manage the construction of the bridges at the cost of K13 million.
According to contract documents, the new bridges have been financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the government’s bridge replacement for improved rural access project.
Works Secretary David Wereh said construction of the bridges was part of a bigger programme to improve all national highways to provide better connectivity and road links to trigger economic and business opportunities and drive change and developments in rural areas. “I think for the first time in the history of this country, this Government has got it right in so far as road maintenance and improving rural road accessibility are concerned,” Wereh said.
He said the government was giving equal attention towards improving national highways as well provincial and district roads by allocating K100 million to revive the Works Plant and Transport Division in districts and provinces
“Not only that, but at the same time the Government is putting money to open up new road links that have been missing in the country since independence, so the Government is now getting it right for our people,” Wereh said.