The National Government has officially launched works on the ‘Momase Economic Corridor’ of the Connect PNG Project.
The launch will see a major road upgrade and sealing of the Sepik Coastal Highway between West Sepik and Madang Province.
The West Sepik side will start from Wutung on the PNG-Indonesia Border to Aitape town. The project will also cover inland roads such as the Vanimo to Green River road, the Bewani to Imbio ring road, and the Lumi to Nuku road.
A government delegation led by Minister Rainbo Paita and Solan Mirisim was in Vanimo yesterday to launch the project with funding presented to contractors.
“This Government is serious about connecting PNG. For too long past governments have made commitments and nothing to show for it. We are here with the funding, work will start,” said Works and Highways Minister Solan Mirisim.
With the Connect PNG now officially legislated, successive Governments will be obliged to see this project complete by 2040.
For the next 5 years, the Government aims to connect the Momase and Highlands Regions to the Southern Region. This means, priority will be given to missing road links in rural areas, thus enabling government services to reach these communities.
“I must highlight that the Connect PNG Programme is a National Roads Infrastructure Development Programme implemented in all regions and provinces. In the medium term, the program aims to connect the Momase and Highlands Regions to the Southern Region through the Trans-National Highway by 2025,” Minister Mirisim said.
For the Sepik Coastal Highway, 10% of the total K139.85million project has been given to the contractor Green Hills Limited and China Railway to start works between Vanimo and Wewak town.
“Marape-Rosso Government recognizes the strategic importance of the Momase Economic Corridor road network and its huge potential to affect socio-economic development in the Momase Region and PNG as a whole,” Minister Mirisim said.
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