PNG PM Marape leads maiden convoy on newly named Pangu Highway

More than 100 vehicles rolled out of Port Moresby today behind Prime Minister James Marape as he led the country’s first-ever road convoy along the newly completed Transnational Highway, linking the capital directly to Lae through Gulf and Morobe provinces for the first time in the nation’s history.

Mr Marape flew back into the country on Saturday evening straight after attending the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, giving himself barely a day’s rest before setting off on the historic drive, which coincides with celebrations marking Papua New Guinea’s 51st Independence anniversary.

 PNG PM Marape leads maiden convoy on newly named Pangu Highway

The highway, which will now be known as the Pangu Highway, stretches roughly 168 kilometres and was built at a cost of around K60 million, according to Works and Highways Department figures released earlier this year.

The route’s completion closed a missing link between Gulf , Morobe and the nation's capital Port Moresby that had for decades kept the two neighbouring provinces apart, separated by mountains, rivers and dense jungle despite sharing a border.

For the journey, the Prime Minister was assigned a fully-kitted Toyota Land Cruiser fitted with a Starlink internet unit, allowing him to remain connected with the public online while travelling through some of the country’s most remote stretches of road.