O’Neill announces major road subsector reforms

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced major road subsector institutional reforms to promote greater efficiency and accountability in delivering roads and other rural infrastructure services across the country.
He said the reforms would be implemented over five years from next year.
“Roads are the backbone of the nation and particularly in remote and rural areas, good roads are essential for us to increase living standards,” O’Neill said.
“We need and we will build a truly national highway network that will connect major centres on every large island of our nation.
“I want to see it possible to drive from Vanimo to Alotau, and while this is a lot of work, we will make it happen.
“The reforms I am announcing today will ensure the Government’s roads policies and programmes are effectively managed and delivered so that we can deliver these roads.
“We have a clear road transport agenda to increase road connectivity and provide greater access to functional roads around the country.
“For decades, roads have deteriorated in large part because road subsector governance structure was lacklustre, and funding mechanisms were not well organised.
“Our Government has delivered what we can within this structure, now we must take the next step and reform the system.
“This will enable our Government to provide a more targeted focus on connecting our rural and resource production regions with our cities. This includes connecting the Mamose Highway from Vanimo to Madang into Gulf via Wau/Bulolo, the Southern Highlands-Gulf-Central-Port Moresby-Milne Bay Highway. This road is already underway, and the Madang to Baiyer road will ultimately link all main highways to Port Moresby.
“These are vital inter-regional links that will be delivered to prepare our country for the growing population and the related socio-economic needs in the near future.”
O’Neill said enhancing the existing road network to be safer, reliable and efficient further requires regular scheduled maintenance programmes.