ROAD TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS ALONG THE RAMU HIGHWAY IN MADANG PROVINCE
Date: 27th January 2025
The Department of Works and Highways acknowledges the significant challenges faced by the traveling public due to the recent deterioration of the Ramu Highway, particularly along the section between Usino Junction and Tapo Bridge in Madang Province. Persistent heavy rains over the past few weeks have severely affected the road's condition, causing disruptions to traffic flow and making the highway difficult to navigate.
The primary issue arises from water infiltration into the unbound pavement, resulting in the weakening and failure of road sections. Vehicles have been bogged down in soft areas or unable to gain sufficient traction on steeper inclines, particularly through the mountainous sections of the Finisterre Range.
In response to this emergency, the Department of Works and Highways has activated its emergency procedures to address the situation promptly. Over the weekend, KaiaWorks Construction Ltd, a contractor already mobilized in the area, was engaged to carry out immediate repairs. Soft spots caused by the heavy rainfall have been addressed, and patrol grading is currently underway to stabilize and reinforce repaired sections of the highway.
The Department is working diligently to ensure that all damaged sections of the Ramu Highway are repaired and reopened to nail-nal traffic as quickly as possible. We anticipate that the highway will be fully restored and accessible to vehicles within the next few days, barring further adverse weather conditions.
We sincerely apologize to the traveling public for the disruption and inconvenience caused by these unforeseen circumstances. The Department is committed to improving its response times for future emergencies and is actively implementing measures to strengthen the resilience of critical road infrastructure.
The department is doing it best to fix the road and maintain it under good condition, with the entire Ramu Highway currently under contract for rehabilitation and upgrading:
- Waterise Junction to Menia Bridge - Adept Construction Ltd
- Menia Bridge to Yamena Bridge- Treaty PNG Ltd
- Yamena Bridge to Ono Bridge - JVPNG Ltd
- Ono Bridge to Madang Airport Junction- Kaiaworks Ltd
The department is also working on a permanent solution to these climate change-induced issues, and it is working with the World Bank under the Resilient Transport Projects (RTP) Program, which focuses on improving and maintaining critical sections of the country’s highway network, particularly the Ramu and Hiritano Highways. The program is currently in the feasibility study and climate resilience design works stages this year, for the section from Waterais Junction to Madang Town, and reconstruction work on the same will commence in 2026. The intent of the RTP Program is to reconstruct the whole highway to enhance its resilience against natural disasters and emergencies, essentially aiming to build a more robust road into the future.
We kindly request the patience and cooperation of the road users while our teams work tirelessly to restore safe and reliable access along the Ramu Highway.
