Rain sweeps culvert away, cuts off road

 HEAVY rain washed away a culvert and cut off the road between Bialla and Ulamona in West New Britain.

Hundreds of people in Bialla and Ulamona are affected as the provincial government looks for funds to repair the damaged road.

General Manager of Hargy Oil Palm Ltd Graham King confirmed this yesterday.

“The twin Armcos have gone. The good Armco culvert, which would have made a good temporary crossing, disappeared downstream,” he said.

“The damaged one wrapped itself around a tree and is too damaged to be of much use.”

Graham said there was no road access between Bialla and Ulamona no alternative road access.

He said provincial works manager John Sitapai inspected the site on Saturday and left for Port Moresby to seek funding to repair the road.

The works department, in conjunction with Nivani and Hargy Oil Palms, is trying to erect a temporary bridge for people to walk across.

“This is costing smallholder oil palm growers and the oil palm company as well as the business community in Bialla money in lost production.

“Students cannot get to school in Bialla and stores at Barema, Navo, Noau and Ulamona cannot be re-supplied.”

He said the road from Bialla to Kimbe was washed out near the Bialla airstrip. 

King said the culverts were carried downstream by the strong currents.

A temporary road is being constructed through Matililiu village.