MINISTER for Works and Highways Minister Hon. Solan Mirisim made a courtesy visit to the Manus East West Highway redevelopment project last Thursday.
This is one of the major projects under the Connect PNG Programme at a cost of K115 million
The road project runs from National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) junction to Kawa Primary School, a total of 32.3km.
The project was launched by Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso in 1st November 2022 and since then the project was gradually taking shape, however, the project challenges are unique despite the schedule and timeframe of delivery.
Upon arrival in Manus, Minister Mirisim was received by the local members of Manus and the Acting Governor General Job Pomat.
The Minister was accompanied by Works Secretary David Wereh and Regional Works Manager Kingsford Kassen.
The Manus highway runs from the southern part where Lorengau Township is situated and it goes all the way to Ndraukei at the western part of the Island of about 100 – 150km.
The first phase, from the NBC Junction to Kawa Primary School road works is now currently being constructed by Covec PNG Ltd.
The second and third phase of the highway will be re-scoped and tender documents prepared so that the entire highway is completed to a standard road for the people of Manus because Connect PNG is all about reaching the unreached, touching the untouched and connecting the unconnected.
Minister Mirisim on behalf of the Marape-Rosso Government made a commitment to seal the first 5km section of the Manus Highway from NBG Junction up to Rossun Village and Primary school at the earliest.
He said that there are other unique challenges about the project because the Island Province itself is 300 miles away from mainland PNG.
The Minister said as a result, it is a very expensive exercise to transport the needed materials and equipment onsite to progress the works at a quicker rate.
“Most of the materials obtain locally, especially gravels and quarries charges of their rates are very expensive, therefore, it also poses some risks into how the pace of work and progress is in a snail pace with only earth works and line drainage have been on going.
“Under the Connect PNG program for the Manus Highway Department of Works & Highways have tasked the Manus Works Office to be proactive and support this huge investment program of the government.
“The contractor has been tasked under the Connect PNG program to build a duplex office complex for works Manus office building and two staff housing for engineers that will come and reside to work in the province in the immediate future when the project is still on foot,” Minister Mirisim said.
