K10m deal signed to keep PNG's Highlands Highway open

Motorists, farmers and freight operators relying on the Highlands Highway can expect improved road conditions after three maintenance contracts worth close to K10 million were signed yesterday, engaging two construction firms to carry out the work.

The signing ceremony was held at the National Procurement Commission's boardroom in the Hela 1 Building, Port Moresby, witnessed by Asian Development Bank officials as part of continued efforts to preserve the country's busiest road link.

 K10m deal signed to keep PNG's Highlands Highway open

Those putting pen to paper were Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba, Amaku and Sons Construction Ltd managing director Jerry Agus, NPC board chairman and Finance Department secretary Samuel Penias, and Zhang Meng of PNG SJ Construction Limited.

Penias used the occasion to highlight the achievements of the Connect PNG programme, noting that the benefits were now visible to ordinary citizens, while stressing the importance of protecting that investment through maintenance.

"Connect PNG is real, not a fake story. People are seeing the benefits of what we do," he said.

He cautioned that without proper upkeep, government would eventually be forced to spend heavily rebuilding deteriorated roads. Penias said the NPC was satisfied with the completion of the procurement process, paving the way for contractors to begin, and thanked the ADB for its continued support along with the NPC team behind the paperwork.

Holemba, addressing those present, described the Highlands Highway as the backbone of freight movement in the country.

"It carries a lot of freight traffic, cargo traffic up in the mines, coming down our cash crops from the Highlands coming into the wharf in Lae," he said.

He noted that consistent maintenance was vital to keeping the highway open for the movement of goods and services to the Highlands, Momase and other regions. The contracts cover the Leron, Ramu, Umi, Henganofi and Jomjumi sections, with Amaku and Sons Construction taking on two — the 37.7-kilometre Leron Bridge to Umi Bridge stretch and the 33.9-kilometre Ramu Bridge to Leron Bridge stretch — while PNG SJ Construction handles the Jomjumi to Young Creek section.

Holemba pointed out that potholes had already begun forming along parts of the route, making the repairs urgent, and said the works would build on bridges already completed under the ADB programme. The contracts allow 24 months for completion.

He also thanked the Road Fund for maintaining temporary repairs while the larger contracts were being processed, and spoke of Amaku and Sons' growth from a small local enterprise into a major construction player, as well as PNG SJ Construction's expansion from New Ireland into mainland PNG.

"We will work closely with the contractors to ensure the contracts are properly managed and delivered," Holemba said, adding that the ADB and programme managers would continue to provide support throughout implementation.