K600m spent on Connect PNG in 2024
Source: Sunday Bulletin
By: Francis Rooney Pulu
Date: 29th December 2024
ABOUT K600 million was spent on this year's Connect PNG Program, according to a senior Executive of the Department of Works and Highway (DOWH).
These were the remarks made by the acting secretary of the DOWH Gibson Holemba during the sign-g of a road contract for the Sepik highway at the Government House on Monday 23 December 2024.
Holemba said in this year's budget the department was allocated K600 million for the Connect PNG Program and that was the amount used under that program for this year He said that the particular funding of 600 million was fully warranted and it was spent on key economic rods, in particular the key economic orridors and 16 national highways.
Holemba said the Highlands Highway was one of those that had received most of this year's funding and the emergency works and the major contracts on that road as well as the Ramu Highway and the Sepik Highway on the coast.
"We found a section between Aitape from Yakamul going into Aitape town and that is Green Hill working on that section which is about 40 kilometres section currently being sealed, he said.
"We are also working on the Ramu section between Usino and Ono Bridge back to Yakura. And that section is currently being worked at and at the same time we are working on the four-lane road in Lae and coming to Nadzab, including the four-lane bridge at Yalu River. We are also working on the road from Mendi to Nipa to Ambua. At the same time, we are also working on the section of road between Ambua going into Hela and to Komo and to Koroba, he said.
"So, these are the current major roads that we are working on including the missing link section between Menyamya coming into Epo which our PTD is currently working on it is almost 30 kilometers to go and by first quarter we should be able to connect the trans national highway between Kerema all the way to East Cape, "he said.
Holemba said the Southern corridor section is also being worked on and those missing link sections between Moreguina to Gadaisu, including the two major contracts at Bautama to Imila to Moreguina, as well as the Bougainville trunk road from Arawa to Buin.
"The Buka ring road from Pitino to Kesa and the missing link from Siara to Korobobi," he said.
Holemba said for the Trans Fly Border corridor work is currently underway for the Telefomin missing link.
"This year we managed to punch through, actually this week Thursday on the eve of Christmas, the gravel works should be able to reach the existing road at Telefomin Station. And the Minister is going up to his district to celebrate the connection between Tabubil and Telefomin, which is a milestone achievement.
"And so that is the current government's commitment to open up the communities unreached and disconnected, including the missing link section between Oreomu to Weamb to Ambag back to Kiunga," he said.
Secretary Holemba said these are some key road corridors that the government has funded and that work on this vital infrastructure are still progressing, some of which are key economic roads links.
He added that the Department is again looking forward to next year's continued implementation of key programs under Connect PNG. With regards to the recently launched Corporate Plan 2025-2029, the department is looking forward to implementing it in the new year. That corporate plan is very important to us because it captures the Connect PNG agenda.
"And the current corporate plan is prioritising the phase one program of the Connect PNG and also becoming a transitional point between Phases One and Two which will commence in 2028.
Meanwhile, Holemba said with the country's 50th anniversary next year, the Connect PNG Program is looking at connecting East Cape in Alotau by September and on to Lae and to Tari in Hela.
