Alotau district commits K4 million to rebuild flood-damaged Haumo bridge

The Alotau District Development Authority has committed K4 million to construct a permanent, two-lane bridge over the Haumo River, moving to replace a deteriorating temporary structure that has bottlenecked the township's main economic artery for nearly a decade.

The funding commitment follows severe flooding last month that nearly washed away the existing single-lane Bailey bridge at the Gravel Pit entry point, forcing emergency workers to scramble to construct a temporary bypass.

Alotau MP Ricky Morris announced that the district has prioritized the Haumo Bridge project due to its strategic position connecting Alotau town with Gurney Airport and rural communities extending towards the Central Province border.

The current Bailey bridge was installed in 2018 as a temporary fix after previous infrastructure failures but has remained in place for eight years, leaving thousands of daily commuters vulnerable to seasonal environmental disruptions.

"We have listed the Haumo Bridge at Gravel Pit and requested a COI based on the emergency nature of the works required," Morris said. "For now, K4 million has been factored and planned through the district. The project will likely cost more, but with this joint undertaking from the district and the Milne Bay Provincial Government, we can confidently seek counter-funding support from the National Government."

Morris said the district will not settle for another temporary patch, aiming instead for a modern, high-capacity design.

"We want a double-lane bridge. This is the primary entry point into our township, so we are demanding a highly permanent structure that can accommodate future traffic growth," he said.

The Department of Works and Highways has welcomed the local intervention. Milne Bay Provincial Works Manager Paul Waine Kai confirmed his office will provide full engineering and logistical support to realize the MP’s vision.

"I am very pleased that the Member is stepping up with K4 million for the bridge. That capital injection gives us the necessary baseline to start structural procurement," Kai said.

The urgency of the bridge reconstruction is further compounded by major state aviation investments nearby. The Haumo corridor serves as the primary transit link for the ongoing K76 million Gurney Airport Upgrade Project, which is nearing completion.

District officials say leaving the temporary, flood-prone bridge unaddressed risks isolating the modernized airport asset and choking the transit of services, agriculture, and commuters into the provincial capital.