FIVE MAJOR ‘MISSING LINK’ ROADS TO BE PUT ON TENDER

By PNG TOK OUT | June 4, 2020 – MEDIA RELEASE Through the government’s ‘Connect PNG’ road strategy, five major missing link roads throughout the country will be put on tender in the next two weeks, Works Minister Michael Nali said. Mr Nali said in response to questions that the government through its Connect PNG road strategy would put out the tenders for the first five missing link roads, led by the Lae-Malalaua road which is called the Trans-Islands Highway, Watarais-Madang-Bogia to East Sepik-West Sepik (to be called the International Highway), the East New Britain-West New Britain Highway, Manus and the Bougainville roads. While it was not explained, it was understood that tenders would consist of a feasibility study and other scope of work required that would allow for the construction of the roads. The minister said other important roads like the Highlands Highway, are funded through the K3 billion Chinese Exim Bank loan and the Baiyer-Madang road funded through the Indian Exim Bank loan. He said another missing link, the Gulf-Southern Highlands Highway was progressing while the Tabubil-Telefomin roads initiated by the Member for Telefomin was cutting through difficult mountain terrain to get the road to Telefomin by local contractor Ipwenz Construction. He said the road is going to connect the Western province to Telefomin and all the way to Oksapmin and eventually connect the Highlands Highway at Kopiago. He said there were also plans to connect the road from Telefomin to the coast in Vanimo. This would have a smaller road connected to them. Mr Nali said the Daru to Morehead road funding was captured in the National Budget. And the governor and the member responsible should work together with him and his department to sit together to identify the right contractor to get the road through. He said the other missing link roads in the plan are the Western–Gulf road, the Alotau-Port Moresby, and the Oro-Port Moresby roads. Mr Nali said from the big roads, the smaller roads connect and continue from them. He said his department was collecting data to identify all the local contractors in the LLGs, the district and the provinces. He said it is essential to empower these local contractors. “We must grow and empower our Papua New Guinean contractors.” he added. Ends/