Menyamya roads to be considered in project

ROADS in Menyamya, Morobe, will be considered under the Government’s Connect PNG 2020 policy, Works and Implementation Minister Michael Nali says.
Nali said this in response to MP Benjamin Philip’s query on whether the Government had plans to fix the roads which had deteriorated.
He said the roads would be given priority under the Trans-Highlands Highway which was one of the major economic links that would connect the Highlands and Morobe to Port Moresby.
“This will, however, be subjects of economic and technical studies,” he said.
“The rugged terrain of the area makes it very difficult for engineers to try to align the road.
“Studies are on foot now, Government is committed to that and also our development partners have made it their business to help us fund that road.”
Currently, the road in the district is classified as district road but if aligned to the Trans-Highlands Highway, it can be classified as a national highway, according to Nali.
He said the struggle for road rehabilitation and construction in the country was the issue of insufficient funding.
Nali said the department was given 30 per cent less than what was needed for roads, with an existing backlog of K20 billion.
A total of K14. 5 billion is needed annually to upgrade and to build new infrastructure in the country, according to Nali.
He also clarified the Hiritano Highway as a national highway and the awarding of a contract for a 50km segment of the highway would be done soon.