K400mil for capital roads

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill says K400 million has been allocated to improve and develop the six major roads in the National Capital District.

This was approved by the national executive council on Wednesday and would come from the 2013 budget. 

The council also endorsed contracts to three companies for the tar-sealing and upgrading of the roads. The three projects were tendered by the National Capital District Commission and Central Supply and Tenders Board.    

The six roads are expected to meet world standards with four lanes, plus an overpass from Erima to the Sir John Guise stadium. 

O’Neill said the project was an initiative of the government to prepare for the 2015 Pacific Games and the Apec meeting in 2018. 

“The government is strongly committed to fix the run-down roads in the city,” he said. 

“It is the government’s commitment under its infrastructure programme to build and maintain road structures. 

“Also, as part of our commitment to host the Pacific Games, we have made a huge commitment to the infrastructure in NCD. 

“We have worked together with the governor for NCD and the management to address the infrastructure, particularly the roads. 

“NCD is a growing city and the project is aimed to address the pressing infrastructure issue in the capital.”

These roads are: 

lFrom the airport through Erima to the Sir John Guise stadium in Gordon. An overpass will also be constructed linking Erima to the stadium to be done by New Zealand-based Hawkins Construction Company;

lFrom Gerehu to Hanuabada and Gerehu to 9-Mile to be upgraded by the China Harbour Engineering Company; 

lThe Gordon industrial area to be upgraded by Global Construction; 

lThe Erima to 9-Mile to be upgraded by Dekenai Construction. Work has already begun with funding from NCDC. 

There are also smaller roads that will be upgraded including the stretch from 6-Mile market to the airport at 9-Mile.    

NCD Governor Powes Parkop thanked the government and partners saying it was a massive investment which would benefit the country in the long run.