Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sustainable Highlands Highways Investment Program Tranche 2 Bridge Rehabilitation and Maintenance program gains momentum along the Highlands Highway section between Mt Hagen and Lae City
Date: 21st January 2025
The Department of Works and Highways Acting Secretary Mr. Gibson Holemba and his Executive Director for Highway Management Wing Mr. Steven Pup took a tour to inspect the Highlands Highway from Mt Hagen Kagamuga Airport Western Highlands Province down to Nadzab Airport in Lae Morobe Province.
The purpose of the visit was to for the site inspection of the ADB co-financed K3 billion SHHIP program. The site visitation was led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Program (SHHIP) Goroka Project Office for site inspection of the Highlands Highway from Mt Hagen Kagamuga to Nadzab in Lae Morobe Province.
The ADB SHHIP Team Project Director Mr. Paul Nindivi and Project Manager Coordination Mr. Jacob Kelly Kata with international consultants attached with the project office with the contractor CECCC, China Wu Yi and MCC accompanied to give a tour guide to the acting secretary’s entourage to inspect project site the Western Highlands and Jiwaka, Simbu, Goroka and Morobe Province respectively.
The ADB SHHIP Program has 3 tranches under the K3 billion program which has a lifespan of 10 years and currently the program has completed tranche 1 which is the maintenance and rehabilitation of the highlands highway from Western Highlands Kagamuga Airport Junction to Nadzab Airport Junction in Morobe Province.
The visit with the acting secretary was to see the commencement of the tranche 2 which is the maintenance and replacement of 72 bridges along the highlands highway to a standards 2 lane concrete carriageway mounted on steel decking with piles driven into the river bed in compliance with the new DoWH bridge specification which is climate resilient infrastructure and having key safety features like railed walks for pedestrians.
The secretary’s entourage made a brief stop over at Goroka for lunch with the new incoming Provincial Works Manager for Eastern Highlands Mr. Junior Kupulu and the secretary took this opportunity to thanked Mr Kupulu for his tenure as works manager southern highlands before taking up the current posting. The briefing was witness by Goroka works staff and Project Managers and engineers working on the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Program at Bird of Paradise Hotel before the team headed to Lae City.
Mr. Holemba made reference to the Government commitment and the Works and Highways Minister Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP expectations and targets for the ADB SHHIP program on the highlands highways section from Mt Hagen to Lae is in commemoration of the PNG 50th Golden Jubilee Celebrations that about 30 bridges will be completed before September 16th to gain momentum to mark the golden jubilee of PNG Independence and 50 years of nationhood.
Planned on the occasion will be the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and Minister for Works and Highways Hon. Solan Mirisim will be expected officiate the opening of all 30 bridges out of the 72 which is currently under maintenance and reconstruction by the Co-finance K3 billion ADB SHHIP program under tranche 2 project currently.
Caption: Picture is Secretary Holemba and the Works team standing on the 100 2 lane Bena Bridge which is made of steel and concrete.
