ORO BRIDGE PROJECT STARTS

The Multi million kina "Oro Bridge Re-construction project" in Northern province has formally commenced, after years of delay.

The bridge project was funded by Australian government, at the cost of 130 million kina through the Transport and Infrastructure Support Program.

Unfortunately the big project was launched yesterday, without the presence of elected provincial leaders including the Governor, Garry Juffa.

The quite and beautiful Oro Bay Beach side came a live with traditional singsing groups and live bands put up by the locals, who came in from all over Oro.

Organized by Canconstruct PNG, the company that will construct the bridges, together with the office of the Provincial Governor, the event attracted hundreds of locals and business houses within the province.

The gathering was basically to celebrate the commencement of the major development project, the "Oro Bridge Re-construction project" .

Inset....

Present at the occasion includes,representatives from AusAID, Owner of Canconstruct, Robin Murphy and his executive team , and local community leaders.

Unfortunately, there were no presence of elected provincial leaders, despite invitations and numerous attempts by the organizers to bring them in.

Governor Gary Juffa was expected to do the official ground breaking ceremony at the Eroro bridge, one of the four bridges that will under go re- construction, but was notably absent due to other urgent commitment.

However that did not stop the locals from their planned program as they took ownership of the project as this is something they have been waiting for in years.

The bridge project has been funded by Australian government at the cost of 130 million kina after Cyclone Guba hit the province in 2007, but work has been delayed for some years.

Provincial works manager John Puri briefly told NBC News from the site, the long delay is mainly due to procurement processes involved in awarding the contract.

Meantime the four bridges, which includes, the Eroro, Girua, Ambogo, and Kumusi bridges were among many other bridges in Oro that were damaged by Cyclone Guba.

These bridges will now be re- constructed to much stronger and bigger with two lane each.

According to the project site manager, the new bridges should be ready for use by mid 2016.