Prime Minister Hon. James Marape officially Opens 9 new bridges in Madang & East Sepik Province
under the Department of Works & Highways Bridge Replacement for Improved Rural Access Project
(BRIRAP) Funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) & the Government of Papua New Guinea
(GoPNG).
Mr. Marape accompanied the Minister for Works & Highways Hon. Solan Mirisim and DoWH Secretary
David Wereh with a delegation to Madang Province to open these 9 new bridge infrastructures at
Tapoford Bridge along the Madang Ramu Highway.
The opening of the 9 new bridges signifies the Government continued commitment and support to
the DoWH programs and projects. The BRIRAP program in Madang and East Sepik Province is cofinanced by EIB and GoPNG.
The total length of the 6 bridges in Madang is 509 meters, with each bridge length span for Tapoford
161m, Wasigo 38m, Mea 138m, Dry Wara 32m, Bora 80m and Gusap 60m. While the total length of 3
bridges in East Sepik is 96 meters, which each bridge length span for Pasik 30m, Ogama 38m and
Potohu 28m. The total funding of the 9 bridges (USD$70m) PGK233 million with DoWH as the GoPNG
employer representative providing the project supervision from tendering, procurement and
awarding of contract and construction to Covec PNG Ltd as the main contractor and subcontractor is
SMEC JV PNG Ltd as the consulting engineer of the project.
The 9-steel girder concrete saw the construction of bridges 3 in East Sepik Province along the Sepik
Highway and 6 in Madang along the Ramu-Madang highway is part of the DoWH bridge replacement
program to replace bailey bridge structure that provide temporary access but are prone to climate
change and unpredictable weather patterns that causes flash flooding and washouts which is now a
thing of the past with opening of the 9 new permanent bridge structures.
All the bridges are built on permanent steel girder with concrete decking and expected to last for 50
to 100 years. Design and construction were done to international standards that is weather and
climate resilient built to withstand floods and earthquakes.
The Bridges will reduce travel time and assist the local communities to have access to urban markets
to sell their local produce.
