Morobe LLG area to get bridge

 By ELLEN TIAMU

PEOPLE in the Onga-Waffa local level government (LLG) area of Morobe will soon have road access to Markham and Lae after 20 years.

Local MP and Minister for Housing Paul Ezekiel last Friday presented a cheque to road construction company FTM to erect a bridge across the Yati River to make the link.

The cheque was for a sum of K1.5 million, although the total cost is expected to exceed K1.7 million.

Since the collapse of the first bridge 20 years ago, the people have had to walk to Mutzing Station along the Highlands Highway to get public transport to and from Lae city.

Ezekiel said he would work to bring about increased infrastructure developments in  Ongga/Waffa and the neighbouring Wantoat LLG over the next five years.

FTM expects to begin preparatory work on the new bridge in two weeks with actual construction of the bridge expected to begin in two months.