WEST COAST ROAD PROJECT UPGRADE IN NEW IRELAND PROVINCE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS A BOOST TO THE TRADE INVESTMENT OF SMALLHOLDER OIL PALM FARMERS – Improve turnaround time to maximize profit and reduced vehicle maintenance cost
Boluminsky Highway in New Irelands Province (NIP) is one of the best sealed road in Papua New Guinea which stretches from Kavieng the Capital on the East Coast of the island province to Namatanai District in the west coast of the Island.
This Boluminsky highway has immensely boost tourism on the island which annually attracts massive number of tourists who visited the province to see the scenic beauty of the island from pristine clear sea water, white sandy beaches and coral reefs, to waterfalls and waterways and a good number of guest houses and local resorts run by local businesses and the road side communities to a number to atolls for surfing and scuba diving or family picnic.
The west coast side of the island is now the focus being recipients of a number of road infrastructure projects supported by the Provincial Government of New Ireland under the leadership of senior statesman and former Prime Minister of Papua Guinea Sir Julius Chan, MP.
Particularly this Baum Crossing from Panamana to Belifu in Kavieng District in NIP. The road has already reached West Coast, will commence on West Coast Sealing. Building roads and connecting people and businesses for the smallholder oil palm farmers in NIP in partnership with Kavieng District Development Authority (KDDA) under Treasurer Ian Ling Stucky as the local Member and New Ireland Provincial Government partnership.
Contract No. DOWH/KDDA -47OPFR-24RM02: Gravelling and Other associated drainage works on Baum Crossing (14.9km) From Panamana East coast to Belifu -west coast in Kavieng, NIP.
The project is Funded by Kavieng DDA and the Contractor is Mengsu Holdings Ltd. The project is Managed and Supervised by Department of Works and Highways - at the Contract Amount of K9,905,802.05.
The road is an existing track now open for public access linking East Coast (Boluminski Highway) to West Coast. It also serves as one of the most reliable access to one of the tourist hotspots Belifu Canyon, reducing travelling time to Belifu canyon by an hour compared to Fangalawa road.
The road also provides easy access for oil palm growers on the west coast to the oil palm mill at Lakurumau. The travelling Time is reduced by 2 hours. This is one of the highlights of the partnership forged between KDDA and DoWH.
Next project will continue from Belifu and work back towards Lamusmus. Scope of works will cover sealing. This will be funded by KDDA.
