Deputy Governor calls for urgent infrastructure overhaul of Imila bridge

Desmond Baira near the collapsed Imila Bridge (Image: Supplied)

Deputy Governor for Central Province and President of the Aroma Coast Local Level Government, Desmond Baira, has called on the Department of Works and Highways to urgently review the design of Imila Bridge following its collapse over the weekend.

In a statement, Mr Baira said the bridge must be rebuilt using a stronger and more durable design to avoid similar failures in the future.

He said the department must also secure the necessary funding and engage reputable, high-performing contractors, such as Global Construction, to ensure the bridge is built to last.

Global Construction has already been engaged to construct a temporary road access, allowing traffic to continue moving while plans for reconstruction are developed.

The Deputy Governor visited the site of the collapsed bridge to assess the impact of the failure on communities and road users.

People walking across the Imila River (Image: Supplied)

During his visit, he also noted a lack of maintenance on several bridges along the Magi Highway, despite ongoing road works.

These bridges include More, Bilipo, Upulima, Lako [Boredoa], Orman, Inuma, Ibunatou, and Kemp Welsh.

Mr Baira stressed that Papua New Guinea has just passed its 50th Anniversary and undertaken a national “reset,” and as the country looks ahead to the next 50 years, the transport sector must be transformed.

He is now calling for double-lane bridges at these crossings to meet the needs of a growing province.