Holemba clarifies Lealea footbridge cost and specifications

Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba has clarified that the newly constructed Lealea Footbridge measures 220 metres, not 22 metres as reported in a recent news article.

Responding to widespread public concern over its K15.4 million price tag, Secretary Holemba explained that the bridge was built using advanced Fibre Reinforced Polymer materials, designed to last up to 70 years in corrosive coastal environments with minimal maintenance.

He said the project required complex marine construction techniques, geotechnical surveys, offshore piling, and imported components from Australia, factors that significantly contributed to the overall cost.

The infrastructure was delivered under the PNG LNG Project’s Infrastructure Tax Credit [ITC] Program and underwent strict oversight involving the Department of Works and Highways, independent technical advisors, engineering certifiers, and environmental and social risk auditors.

Secretary Holemba dismissed allegations of fraud or misuse of funds as speculative and uninformed, emphasizing that the footbridge is an important achievement in sustainable, modern infrastructure delivery for Papua New Guinea.