Work resumes on slipped highway

 WORK has begun on the damaged Highlands Highway in Chimbu after the villagers agreed to cooperate with soldiers and police officers deployed there, an official said.

Acting secretary for Works David Wereh confirmed yesterday that work had resumed on the access road while the reconstruction of the main highway continued at where the landslip occurred in Kerowagi, Chimbu.

He said traffic would be allowed to use a bypass road to reach the other side of the highway.

He said contractors and equipment had started work under the supervision of Department of Works engineers after soldiers and police officers arrived at the site.

He said the people were cooperating with works officials and members of the security forces engaged at the site.

The national government deployed soldiers  to help police officers at the site provide security and arrest people trying to sabotage work on the national highway.

He assured the people that traffic flow would return to normal after the work was completed this week.

Minister for Works and Implementation Francis Awesa has thanked the people for cooperating with the government to allow work to start on the road.

He also thanked Kerowagi MP Camillus Dagima,  provincial administration led by Joe Kunda, Chimbu provincial government, works officials and the police and soldiers forces for negotiating with the people to allow work to resume so that the road can be reopened.