Temporary crossing at Girua

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday 02nd December 2011

By JUNIOR UKAHA
ORO works manager Andrew Kendaura said floodwaters had subsided and his men had created a temporary
wet-crossing for motorists across the Girua River.
He said fuel, people and cargo coming in from Oro Bay were transported to Popondetta through the by-pass.
Floods washed the bridge some 100m downstream last Thursday .
Access has been difficult as the river has remained swollen for some time.
Kendaura said two new bridges were expected out of China but they are not due until March.
In the meantime, he said engineers from the Works Department were planning to “jerk” the Kumusi Bridge from the Kokoda side where it was partly submerged.
Air Niugini, which cancelled flights, resumed services on Wednesday.
In a statement, the airline said: “Air Niugini wishes to advise the travelling public that the airline has resumed services to Girua airport in Popondetta, Northern, effective today (Wednesday).
“The first flight PX 853 operated out of Popondetta at 8am to Port Moresby.
“Air Niugini had temporarily suspended its operations to Popondetta last week due to flooding which affected roads and bridges in the area.”
Kendaura has expressed concern about large-scale logging at the headwaters of the Girua River.
He said trees provided a natural barrier to soil erosion and influenced waterways.
Removing them in large quantities could result in the floodwaters changing direction and destroying the bridge.
He said Ajoro village and its inhabitants could have been washed away to sea if the rain had continued because the river was not following its normal course due to sediment build-up.
He said the river changed course into
the village during the flood.