Kimbe-Kandrian highway upgrade in progress

Work on reconnecting the Kimbe to Kandrian Highway in West New Britain Province is progressing well with the national highway expected to open for commuters in the coming months.

Technical officials from the Department of Works and Highways and the West New Britain Provincial Administration conducted an inspection of the highway, recently driving from Kimbe to Kandrian and back.

The technical team was led by Provincial Works Manager, Dagwin Dagwin and Provincial Executive Council Cabinet Secretary Blaise Malagau.

The inspection was basically to check the progress of work undertaken by contractor and logging permit holder currently operating in the Kandrian area, Cakara Alam (PNG) Limited.

Cakara Alam was awarded a K10 million contract under the Connect PNG Program last year for the construction on the missing link sections of the national road.

The team inspected the missing link sections of the highway commencing at Silovuti to Via Bridge and from Via Bridge to Nut Wulavatne Junction - a total distance of 76 kilometres, covered under the allocated K10m funding.

The next section of the highway that was inspected was the Giring Junction to Kandrian Station component of the maintenance works which the Provincial Government allocated K2m to Cakara Alam to upgrade.

A meeting was convened with Cakara Alam in Kimbe where the company executives were briefed on the progress of the works and the recommendations for improvements after the inspections.

Cakara Alam-PNG General Manager, Coling Asfia acknowledged the inspection report saying the company is now taking the recommended actions.