Collapsed Muka Bridge gets K300,000 support from WHPG

The collapsed Muka Bridge in the Kotna LLG of Dei District, WHP (NBC News: Vanessa Ripa)

Last year, the National Government Bridge built over the Muka River collapsed, cutting off more than 50 thousand people in two LLGs in the Dei District of Western Highlands Province.

Though pleas have been made to the responsible authorities, nothing has been done to the Muka Bridge.

The Muka Bridge is centrally located, serving two LLGs in Dei District: Kotna and Kinjibi Mala. It provides access to important government services such as Kitip Secondary School, Nunga and Mukapeng High Schools, numerous primary and elementary schools, health centers, and churches, and facilitates the movement of residents.

School children and locals were seen dropped off by a PMV bus on one side of Muka Bridge to cross over to the other side (NBC News: Vanessa Ripa)

NBC News visited the Muka Bridge last week and observed the significant damage caused by continuous heavy rainfall. The flooding resulted in the collapse of the bridge, despite it being a Bailey Bridge.

Councilor of Kotna Ward seven and former Kotna LLG President, Bimundi Beng, thanked Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa for the K300,000 support to begin repairs on the bridge.

Mr Beng emphasized that the bridge is a national asset and called on the relevant authorities to address the needs of the 50,000-plus residents in this part of the district. However, he noted that there has not been any assistance from the government.

"Our lives depend on this bridge. When it rains it is difficult for school children especially to cross the Muka River to the other side because of its current", Councilor Beng said.

"A local contractor did some work to this collapsed Bridge but left halfway because of funding shortage leaving us to struggle to reach government services".

Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa highlighted that the Muka Bridge serves an economical pathway for the people of Dei and that Dei too is also an important district for Western Highlands given the magnitude of coffee production in this part of the province.

Debris was left on the collapsed Muka Bridge with people seen crossing from one side of the bridge to the other side to access PMV services to Mount Hagen (NBC News: Vanessa Ripa)

" Dei District is an important district for Western Highlands because of its coffee production that generates the province's and country's revenue", said Rapa.

"It is only appropriate that we [WHPG] help the National government to kick off work on the bridge [Muka] and later they [National government] will come in".