Road networks vital for growth

Editorial

ROAD networks connect people to essential services including hospitals, schools, shops and jobs; they transport goods and services for businesses; and they enable economic growth and governance.
Papua New Guinea unfortunately does not have that – we actually have a poorly developed road network.
The poor condition of roads in the country has slowed down the country’s economic development.
Roads are critical for economic growth and inclusive development.
By providing access to employment, health and education services, roads stimulate economic activity and enhance competitiveness, while poor roads isolate communities and compromise national security.
Road infrastructure is therefore considered to be both a key strategic asset and essential for the public good.
PNG has 30,000km of roads, 8,738km of which are ‘national’ roads and the responsibility of National Government.
All other roads are ‘non-national’ and is the responsibility of lower levels of government. National roads were built in the 50s and 70s.
PNG’s roads had developed around the provincial population centres, many of which are on the coast and linked nationally by coastal shipping.
Local road networks had devolved from these coastal centres, along the coastal plains where these exist and along river valleys to penetrate inland.
The extremely mountainous terrain of the country is such that land slips and slides are practically common occurrences.
It has been happening all too often.
Only 68 per cent of the rural population of PNG live within two kilometres of an all-season road.
This isolates millions of Papua New Guineans from markets, opportunities to earn income and health and education services.
It is not just the health and well-being of our existing roads that is being called into question but also the fact that many parts of the country are still not yet linked by road.
Take for instance the capital city, Port Moresby.
It is disbelieving to think that after 44 years of independence successive governments have failed to look seriously into connecting the national capital with any other major provincial capital.
Gulf headquarters, Kerema, can hardly be considered a major provincial player at this point although that may change with the development of the Elk gas fields and the downstream processing of Hela and Southern highlands resources.
But these plans are merely pipe dreams until a proper road can be built connecting NCD to Gulf.
The same goes for the rest of the country.
There is no road linking Wewak to Madang’s tourism hotspots on the North Coast.
Although engineers and accountants would tell us projects like the linking of Port Moresby with Lae, Mt Hagen and Alotau are not economically and practically feasible given the value – or return on investment – of these projects, we prefer to think that excuse has become redundant in this age.
Last year a National Road Network Strategy (2018-2037) was launched by the Department of Works and Implementation to improve roads and develop new economic corridors.
The roads would connect areas where economic activities in different resource sectors were taking place in order to generate revenue for the country.
Last month, the National Executive Council endorsed the Connect PNG Infrastructure Development Programme 2020-2040.
Its objective is to enhance support for sustainable socioeconomic development and national cohesion and unity, by connecting the four main regions – Momase, Highlands, Southern and New Guinea Islands.
This programme should set the foundation to link the country by road.
Remember, bad roads limit growth and a major cause of poverty and hardship so this programme should be supported.