Roadwork causing havoc

By GLORIA BAUAI
SIMULTANEOUS road construction works in Lae are causing havoc to traffic flow, delaying road users up to an hour to get to their destinations, St John Ambulance Lae commander Anderson Poumb says.
“Construction of Busu Road and Kamkumung section of Independence Drive late last year have hampered crucial turn-around time for critical service providers, like ambulance service,” he said.
Poumb said it had been very challenging for them, especially responding during peak hours, ever since the constructions started.
“Take Malahang (backroad) for example,” he said.
“This used to be a 10-minute drive from base to reach Malahang Industrial Area, but now takes more than 30 minutes and another 30 minutes back.
“Time is critical, especially for cases that need immediate attention within five to 10 minutes, such as shortness of breath or lightheaded from loss of blood.
“Anything can happen in an hour.”
Poumb said emergency runs were prioritised with either lights and sirens, lights only or a normal run without lights and sirens.
“My concern is for this low priority runs without lights and siren,” he said.
“No one knows we are on an emergency run during this time and no one will give way. We, on the other hand, cannot turn on our lights and siren for a low priority run and break protocol.
“But these are still emergency cases that need to be attended to.
“Another concern was the transportation of patients back to Angau Memorial Hospital in a fragile condition over the rough road.”
Lae MP John Rosso said he had raised the problems with the Morobe Works Department to manage the situation, especially the Kamkumung section which had seen very slow progress.
“I have spoken to the contractor (Dekenai Construction) to speed up the work as we are approaching the school year and the road should be opened as soon as possible,” he said. Rosso said the Busu Road constructed by JV PNG Construction was now one-third complete.