Local firm builds new road

A locally owned company based in Jiwaka is building a road to connect North Waghi and Jimi district.
Waghi Food Processors Ltd, manufacturer of mountain wine products in Banz, used its own machines and workers to build a new road from Milep Lutheran High School to Olna in Jimi.
Project manager Fred Hann said at the site on Saturday that it was part of the community service programme of the company to help people living in remote districts after seeing the struggle they faced almost every month with constant roadblocks caused by landslides on the existing Banz to Jimi road.
Hann said the new road followed the bush track that used to take six hours walk to Olna. Now it would now take people less than two hours to get to Banz and back.
He said the construction work started two months ago and so far 10km of road had been built to Ginenol.
Hann said they had another 40km to reach Olna village which would take them another five months, but that would depend on weather.
Hann said the company used its own two excavators, a tractor, chainsaws and about 50 workers.
He said the Omngra tribesmen freed up their land, pandanus garden and hunting ground for the road to go through.
“It cost the company K20,000 every week, it’s a fresh-cut road and we are going into the big bush and is a big challenge for us,” he said.