DoWH sets target towards PNG’s Golden Jubilee

The Department of Works and Highways [DoWH] Minister, Solan Mirisim has briefed out his targets and priority to the top management of the department.

Minister Mirisim said the primary target within the next eight months before the country marks its 50th Golden Jubilee is the completion of key road links.

"DoWH need to achieve full connections of all 22 provinces to the national highway network, prioritizing critical missing links and major economic corridors," Mrisim said.

"The National Highways that will be prioritized include Lae-Nazab 4 lane project, Ramu Highway, New Britain Highway, Magi Highway, Hiritano Highway, Highlands Highway, Sepik Highway, Coastal Highway [Madang to Wutung], Boluminski Highway, Bougainville Highway, Manus East-West Highway, Kiunga to Tabubil Highway and Wau Highway."

Minister Mirism also highlighted the need for completion of all missing link roads.

He said top of the list will be the Karamui missing link road which will need to be connected to Kundiawa before September.

"Others include Trans-National Highway, Southern Corridor,Tabubil-Telefomin-Oksapmin-Kopiago, New Britain Highway, Oriomo- Kiunga, Fisika Highway, Oro-Central, Baiyer- Madang, Raicoast to Wasu, Kimbe Kandrian-Pomio, Bogia- Angoram, and Aropokina- Tapini," he said.

Mr. Mirisim also stated that the third priority of the department will be to construct and rehabilitate 500 plus bridges to ensure safe and reliable road crossings, especially in flood-prone regions.

"All rural bridges supplied to the districts and provinces need to be constructed before 16th of September," he said.

Mr. Mirisim has echoed the DoWH target to establish at least five [5] fully operational economic corridors, connecting agriculture hubs, mining zones and ports to national highways.

He said the key corridors are, Trans-National Highway, Momase Corridor, Southern Corridor, Highlands Corridor and New Britain Corridor.