REDEVELOPMENT OF ROUTE 600 WAYS AFTER 30 YEARS – HIRITANO HIGHWAY RECEIVES TWO MASSIVE ROAD MAINTENANCE CONTRACT ON EVE OF 50TH GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Hiritano Highway Route 600 linking Gulf Provincial capital of Kerema town into Central province and Port Moresby is better known by local commuters as 600 ways, received a massive road redevelopment project after 30 years since it was last upgraded.

The Redevelopment of the Hiritano Highway marks a 3-decade road maintenance drought along this stretch of the highway which according to the works road asset management records of national roads this highway in the inventory is number 001 out of the sixteen national highways in PNG.

Official Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Southern Corridor by the Marape-Rosso Government carries a tag of a government that hears the cries of the rural people. This redevelopment road project must now encourage and prepare our people to work the land and make use of this road connections to markets in Port Moresby and overseas.

On 17^th April 2025, the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Hon. James Marape, MP did the ground breaking of the two major road maintenance works contract at Bereina station, Kairuku District in Central Province.

The ceremony was co-hosted by Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP Works & Highways Minister and Vice Minister for Works Hon. Peter Isoaimo, MP, witnessed by fellow cabinet Minister’s Hon. Sir Ano Pala, Minister for Planning, Hon. Soroi Eoe, Minister for Provincial Affairs & LLG, Hon. Seki Agisa, MP Minister for Livestock, Hon. Thomas Opa, MP Minister for Energy, the ceremony was supported by both Gulf Governor Hon. Sir Chris Haiveta, MP and Central Governor Hon. Rufina Peter, MP.

According to Department of Works & Highways Secretary Mr. Gibson Ali Holemba introductory remarks, the two-road maintenance contract is (1) Bereina to Apanaipi - K78 Million contract awarded to Dekenai Construction Ltd, and the second (2) ⁠Apanaipi to Malalaua - K112 million Awarded to China Wu Yi Limited while the third which was awarded long time before this two mentioned (3) from ⁠Laloki to Brown River - K148 Million awarded to Hebou Construction Limited is currently in Court battle.

The PNG Government’s bold stand to set the foundation for economic independence, the Connect PNG initiative, which has successfully linked remote regions through substantial investments in infrastructure, is a testament to the government's commitment to inclusive development rural based approach.

By empowering local contractors with funding ranging from K50 million to K300 million, the Marape-Rosso government has elevated Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into multimillion-dollar entities, fostering economic growth and resilience, creating thousands of jobs for the locals.

The Hiritano Highway is being positioned not just as a transport route, but as a catalyst for economic transformation—connecting communities, stimulating trade, and unlocking the potential of underdeveloped regions, as the northern region connects into the southern region will see increased in movement of vehicles, cargoes and boost in business and trade opportunities, Hiritano highway sets the pace and foundation before Lae connects into Kerema through the Trans – National Highway which is anticipated to be connected in September this year.

The highlights of the ground breaking ceremony was the K300 million investment into Hiritano Highway rehabilitation and call to action to the road side communities and the people of Gulf and central province to mobilize your land and register it to be used for commercial agriculture, tourism, and business activities and don’t be lazy and do nothing but work the vast land to earn a living.