Works department outlines impact of Highlands highway bridge upgrades

Minister for Works and Highways, Peter Tsiamalili Jr has urged communities along the Highlands Highway to take responsibility for protecting national infrastructure, saying development will only benefit the country if people safeguard public assets.

Speaking during the opening of 35 newly constructed bridges along the Highlands Highway at Zumim Bridge in Markham District, Tsiamalili outlined the national importance of the road network.

“This highway links close to five million people. About 40 to 50 percent of the country uses this road,” he said. “Almost 80 percent of our exports travel along this corridor, which is equivalent to nearly K40 billion.”

Tsiamalili said while the Government continues to deliver major infrastructure projects, communities must also change their mindset and protect the development taking place around them.

“There is both good and bad when development comes, and most of the bad comes from us men. It is time for us to reset our mindset, protect this development and look after our mothers and women in our communities,” he said.

Secretary for Works Gibson Holemba, providing a technical overview of the project, said the bridge reconstruction works form part of the broader upgrades along the Highlands Highway corridor.

Holemba explained that the Nadzab to Henganofi section, which covers approximately 202 kilometres, includes 35 bridges with a combined total length of 1,773 metres, along with 45 roadside bus stops constructed to support communities along the route.

He said the broader programme covers three sections of the highway, including bridges between Henganofi and Mangiro, and from Mangiro to the Kagamuga Airport junction in Mount Hagen.

According to Holemba, improved project management also resulted in contract savings of nearly K200 million, allowing the Department of Works to add six additional bridges to the programme.

“This brings the total number of bridges to be constructed under the programme to about 77 bridges along the Highlands Highway,” he said.