Why roads costly: Wereh
By GYNNIE KERO
CLIMATE change and the increase in traffic volume are important factors to consider when it comes to constructing or maintaining roads, says Works secretary David Wereh.
Wereh told The National that they also factored into the high cost of roads.
He said the major roads and highways had been built using 1973 standards, which were suitable only for low-volume traffic.
Wereh said things had changed with around 7,000 vehicles using highways per day – or two million vehicles per year.
“Road pricing is based on standards you are adapting,” he said.
“There are number of factors involved in inflating the costs of the type of road to be built.
“We have all this time been working on 1973 standards. And with climate change having an increasing impact on our roads that were designed for low-volume traffic, it’s a big challenge.
“So you have to now accommodate the maintenance of these roads the impacts of the weather. That’s a consideration you have to make.”
He said with about two million vehicles a year using important lifeline roads such as the Highlands Highway, and more pressure and damage exerted on the highways, the cost was massive.
“We are improving on this (standards),” he said.
“We are involving independent people to come up with designs, others to review before they are tendered.”
He said it was hard to understand how one could inflate costs on a major donor-funded programmes “when the donors themselves are part of the delivering team, when they are part of scoping and planning”.
“They (donor partners) are the ones giving clearances before we (Works Department) put out for tender.
“They have to also ensure it (road) is the right price, standard and scope. We need to get facts right in this country,” he said.
6 comments
This will never eventuate on the works on the highlands highway whilst we have a Chinese Contractor they should be renamed Cheapest Contractor with the best shortcuts to finish.another issue is there is no proper pre survey of the locations,this should be done by works survey and engineers,they have some well trained staff who are capable,this would then give a clearer picture when it comes to formulating a workable and price definitive scope for contractors to tender by.
The current government and the previous governments have all been so fond of engaging Chinese contractors. With very cheap, sub standard and poor quality junks delivered all in the name of infrastructure development. Too many inflated costs with under the table dealing and boomaring trades facilitated by countless unnecessary loans that will take PNG generations to repay. Corruption is at its best. What Kind of country are we living in?
Higher standards obviously calls for higher cost but the question is has our PNG ROAD DESIGN STANDARDS been reviewed and upgraded?.
AusAid including other donor partners would obviously want quality for their investment but they are governed by the premises of the PNG ROAD DESIGN STANDARDS.
Cost vs Quality output has always been confronting in any product or service deliver.
In PNG context, cost has always been overly inflated. One such component is equipment rates are exorbitantly high compared to other developing countries.
While the good Secretary can defend high road cost, it’s better to identify which elements of cost are increasing and make cross sector studies to establish a baseline construction cost data and devise strategies to invest in reducing the cost.
Without a baseline construction cost data, we will only assume and accept any price which is the predicament Department of Works is in now.
Works department should take 100 % ownership of road maintenance like did in 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Those glory days had no potholes. I recall how Works department quickly patches potholes and fixed drains the next day. This is not done now. Companies are paid huge money to do little work. Pls, take back those glory days. Works Dept can do more work with less cost to challenge nature.
Thanks Andy, please we need to restore the glory days of the works department back into our country. Whoever you are in that office of works department you work must try do something to bring back or take back. How you do it – you do it because you are paid to be in the works department.
Many factors contributing why costly with less quality.
1. unqualified companies- large sum of money given to un-skilled companies and the outcome is very poor. If there’s low quality of work done, more maintenance required and costly. for instance, road leading from Togoba to Wabag up in highlands done by Barclay Brothers in 80s still in use compare to Togoba to Mendi by Korean company.
2. PNG Climate- any contracting company must be knowledgeable in PNG weather seasons. We have wet and dry periods and any tiny creek may turn nasty during heavy downpour washed away culverts or blocked off. for instance, placing small culverts/pipes in NCD roads blocked off or washed away,
3. Human interruption- people destroying road side or corridors by building or gardening. un-necessarily interruptions and causing weak soil stability. for instance, Goroka-kundiawa-hagen along highlands highway, people interrupt roads mostly. Enforce
hence, secretary, please revisit 1970s and 80s method of maintaining all main and feeder roads as well any road Acts need to be reviewed in the case of road interruption. large sum of money goes to individual company and the outcome is very poor compared to 80s and 90s. Just few thoughts.
Thank you,
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