Three-year target set for Madang-Baiyer road

THE road from Madang to Baiyer will be completed in three years, according to the Defence Force Engineering Battalion.
Commanding officer Lt-Col Bruno Malau said phase one of the multi-million kina road construction from Baiyer in Western Highlands to Jimi River in Jiwaka had been completed.
Soldiers started transporting machinery back to Lae last Saturday for servicing at Igam barrack.
Phase Two is from Jimi River to Akaraaski in Middle Ramu, Madang next month.
The road construction began in 2010.
One end started at Wanang to Ramu River. The other was from Baiyer to Jimi River. Malau said the 43km road from Wanang to Ramu River was completed in 2014.
The 54km road from Baiyer to Jimi River was completed in 2016.
Phase Two is the 75km road from Akaraski to Jimi River.
He said it was now much easier for the people of Simbai to travel to Western Highlands.
In the past, they had to catch flights.
Malau said they had to walk to Jimi River, crossed on a raft to the other side, then travel by PMV into Mt Hagen.
When the road is completed, it will take only a few hours to travel from Western Highlands to Madang and back on the same day.