Works replacing bridge washed away on Ramu Highway

By DOROTHY MARK
THE Department of Works engineers in Madang have finally put a long-awaited Bailey Bridge across a creek along the Ramu Highway.
The culvert, at a creek at Igiruwe in Usino, burst during heavy flooding on March 6.
It left vehicles and passengers travelling in and out of Madang stranded. Madang Works’ manager Andrew Kendaura said the highway was washed away.
Kendaura said locals from the area created a temporary crossing upstream to assist passengers to cross.
They also created a temporary bypass for vehicles to cross.
He said a 7.5-metre Bailey Bridge had now been constructed across the creek to allow proper crossing.
Kendaura said the final work to be done was to complete the base of the bridge.
“Vehicles can ride over the bridge in a week’s time,” he said.
Meanwhile, people using the Banab Bridge along the North Coast Road continue to use bamboo bridges put across the river.
Those using the bypass through Banab and Wasab villages were charged up to K300 for travelling on customary land.
Madang acting provincial administrator John Bivi said work on the Banab Bridge stopped when a Filipino engineer engaged by a contractor to assess the damage was killed.