By ESWIN PLESIO
THE Government has stepped up efforts to improve the condition of the Highlands Highway following the signing of contracts for the rehabilitation and maintenance of key sections along the country’s busiest road corridor.
The maintenance and rehabilitation work is estimated to cost approximately K10 million and is aimed at improving road conditions, enhancing connectivity and ensuring safer and more reliable travel along the Highlands Highway.
The contracts cover several sections of the highway between Nadzab and Henganofi, including the Makambele, Leron and Waterise sections.
Secretary for Works and Highways Gibson Holemba said the maintenance works were urgently needed to protect the highway and ensure the continued movement of people, goods and services between the Highlands and the rest of the country.
Mr Holemba said the Highlands Highway was the country’s most important highway in terms of traffic, carrying large volumes of freight and cargo from the mining areas and agricultural produce from the Highlands to Lae.
“The Highlands Highway is the most important highway in our country in terms of traffic,” he said.
The contracts cover sections from Nadzab to Henganofi, including the Makambele, Leron and Waterise sections.
Mr Holemba said potholes had already started appearing along parts of the highway, including around Kassam Pass, making it important for contractors to mobilise and begin maintenance work as soon as possible.
The maintenance works will also complement bridge projects recently completed under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported program.
Twenty-five bridges have been completed along
sections of the highway, with the remaining bridges expected to be officially opened by Prime Minister James Marape during his planned visit to Goroka and Mount Hagen next week.
Mr Holemba acknowledged the PNG Road Fund for helping maintain access along the highway while the major maintenance contracts were being finalised.
He also congratulated the contractors, including PNG SJ, which has worked in New Ireland for eight years and Amaku and Sons Construction, a local SME that has grown into a medium-sized contractor undertaking major construction works.
He said the Works Department would work closely with the contractors and ADB program managers to ensure the contracts were properly implemented.
Mr Holemba said maintaining newly constructed infrastructure was essential to preventing premature deterioration and avoiding the high cost of rebuilding roads in the future.