Sir Julius signs K11m highway contract

NEW Ireland government has signed contracts worth about K11 million for the new Trans-Island Highway from south to north and Mussau ring road with a contractor on Friday.
Governor Sir Julius Chan said it was the biggest funding allocation to New Hanover and Mussau and any island project that would help lift the poor and remote communities to realise their true value.
“The new development is expected to provide them with equal opportunities and access to markets in New Ireland,” Sir Julius said.
“The New Hanover road that I think should be named Unity Road will open up the economic corridor of New Hanover and lift the living standards of the people like never before.
“My government is committed to the people of New Hanover and after this signing I want to know when I can break the ground to get the project rolling.”
MCC PNGSJ signed two contracts, the first worth a total of K9.9 million for New Hanover Highway to be built in stages and the second for K1 million for the Mussau ring road upgrading.
The New Hanover road would be 50km long from south to north and will open up travel and access to the mountaintops of New Hanover for farmers.
New Hanover has gone into rubber, cocoa, coconut planting and fisheries on a major scale and the road was expected to help the islanders.
“Since 2009, New Hanover communities alone have received over K1.5 million for community projects and on top of that the new Konomatalik High School costing over K3 million,” Sir Julius said.
“Two new Jetties and Digicel towers that add up to over K10 million.”
Sir Julius said another K11 million worth of community projects, including community halls, aid posts, classrooms, and roads as well as church projects, were funded in the Kavieng district.
The new government residence and the new Kavavu Avenue worth K13 million were some of the big impact projects of the past 10 years.