Government committed to new Madang/Baiyer Road

Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 4:35 pm

Jimi section of the new Madang/Baiyer Road (Anisah Issimel: NBC News)

The National Government is committed to completing the new Madang/ Baiyer Road soon.

Minister for Works and Highways, Solan Mirisim re-echoed the government's support towards this important infrastructure after visiting the construction site last week with his departmental secretary.

Mr Mirisim said the new Madang/ Baiyer Road is a vital road link that has been missing for many years, depriving the people of Middle Ramu and Baiyer of very basic government services.

"The Madang/ Baiyer Road is an alternate route that the government has been talking about for a long time. It is the missing link that will connect Madang to Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces, " Mr Mirisim said.

Minister Mirisim emphasised the Madang/ Baiyer route is an important economic corridor, and that is why the government is interested in it and has pledged its full support towards it.

This road, once completed; will connect Baiyer, Jimi Valley, and Ramu Valley; which he described as "sleeping giants" in terms of agriculture development.

Mirisim said the Marape/ Rosso Government is impressed with the progress of work on the new road and has committed to support it under the Connect PNG Program.

The Minister has tasked his secretary to assemble his team under Connect PNG and start scoping work on a bailey bridge for Jimi River.

Work has reached Jimi Valley and is 40km away from Simbai (Image: Supplied)

Mirisim has also thanked the Governor for Western Highlands, Wai Rapa, and the Member for Mul/ Baiyer, Jacob Maki, for supporting the Member for Middle Ramu, Kansol Harwai Kamdaru; with the project.

Mul/ Baiyer District Development Authority under the leadership of Mr Maki has appropriated K1. 5 million towards the road construction.

Construction work is expected to reach Simbai before September 16, 2025 when PNG celebrates 50 years of nationhood.

Also, last week, the Secretary for Works and Highways visited the remote Karamui District in Simbu Province, with the local MP, Francis Harua and Governor, Noah Kool.

Minister Mirisim said Karamui is also an economic district that needs to be connected to Kundiawa Town under the Connect PNG Program.

Meanwhile, construction work on the Madang/ Baiyer Road is now only 40 kilometres away from Simbai.