PM officiates in K3bil rehab work on Highlands Highway

By ZACHERY PER
POTHOLES on the Okuk Highway will be a thing of the past when the K3 billion rehabilitation work on the road is completed, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
He was in Goroka on Friday to officiate during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme jointly funded by the Government and the Asian Development Bank.
The upgrading work will cover the highway from Nadzab in Morobe to Mt Hagen in Western Highlands through Eastern Highlands, Chimbu and Jiwaka.
He said in four years’ time when work was scheduled to be completed, the Okuk Highlands Highway should not have any potholes.
“The highway between Kagamuga and Nadzab will be upgraded and maintained. Special materials will be used to soak up water during rain so the road remains firm. We will have no potholes on the highway,” O’Neill said.
“Today your Government is committed to giving you a better highway.”
He thanked the ADB and partners, the China Metallurgical Group Corporation, China Wu Yi PNG Limited (Goroka market contractor) and China Harbour Engineering Limited for agreeing to rebuild the important infrastructure.