K3.3bil spent on roads, bridges

The National Main Stories

By LUKE KAMA
THE Government has recorded an unprecedented expenditure of K3.3 billion between 2012 and 2018 on roads and bridges in the country.
Works Minister Michael Nali revealed this when making a presentation during the leaders’ summit in Port Moresby last week.
“We have recorded an unprecedented expenditure of K3.346 billion from 2012 -2018,” Nali said.
He said these included:

  • Emergency and restoration work on 165km of the Highlands Highway;
  • transforming Lae from a “pothole city” to “cement city” with 50km of concrete roads at a cost of K350 million;
  • the Lae–Nadzab Road stage 1 upgrade to four lane worth K254 million;
  • the Boluminski Highway upgrade in New Ireland covering 274km;
  • the New Britain Highway covering 128km;
  • the upgrade and stabilising of Enga Highway from Togoba all the way to Porgera, covering a total of 270km at a cost of K240 million;
  • Bridge replacement programme costing K300 million; and
  • Sealing upgrade of 692km of national highways.

Nali said other programmes included the revitalisation of plant and transport division (PTD) as service delivery maintenance model, hosting of PTD workshops in four provinces, and the supply of 65 new heavy construction equipment by Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“That expenditure also includes rapid response to emergencies and disaster-affected infrastructure maintenance of around 5000km of sub-national roads,” he said.
Nali said an expenditure of K3.4 billion was a record achievement over the past 25 years.
“In my experience as a Member of Parliament, this is a record achievement by any Government compared to any five-year term in the last 25 years,” he said.