Response to petition by Member for Bulolo on the state of the Wau Bulolo Highway (Lae to Bulolo Section)

I wish to acknowledge the petition raised by the Honorable Member for Bulolo regarding the state of the Wau Bulolo Highway and provide the following updates and clarification.

This Government is addressing legacy issues, and Wau Bulolo Highway is one of those legacy issues that has been neglected by successive governments and we are addressing it at the moment.

Lae to Bulolo Highway remains one of the key economic corridors in Morobe Province serving mining, forestry, and agricultural activities, and it’s being progressively upgraded under the Connect PNG Road Economic Infrastructure Development Program and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).

The Marape Rosso Government has committed over K165 million in road maintenance works that are ongoing, in which 57km is in good condition whilst 59km is in fair to poor condition.

Section 1 – Lae to Timini Bridge (45km)
This section is currently funded under the AIFFP at a cost of K66 million. To date, 27kms have been sealed to high standards and 18kms remain to be completed once loan variations are approved. The project is progressing well under supervision of the Department of Works and Highways and the contractor remains mobilized.

Section 2 – Timini Bridge to Bangalum Bridge
This section is funded under the Connect PNG Program worth K38 million. Sealing works have commenced at Timini Village and the contractor is fully mobilized on site, progressing steadily toward Bangalum. The 10kms sealed section is in good condition whilst 23kms are in fair to poor condition.

Section 3 – Bangalum Bridge to Pine Tops Bridge
Procurement for Bangalum to Pine Tops Bridge has been completed and works are commencing progressively under Connect PNG Phase 1 worth K55 million. This will ensure full restoration of the road section with improved safety, drainage, and flood resilience. The 15km sealed section is in good condition whilst 18kms are in fair condition.

4. Emergency and Washout Repairs
Several minor emergency works worth K5 million are currently being undertaken to repair washout sections caused by severe alluvial mining activities along the Bulolo and Watut rivers. These activities have led to siltation, river diversion, and erosion affecting road and bridge embankments.

5. Appeal for Responsible Alluvial Mining Practices
While the department continues maintenance and upgrades, I appeal to the Members of Bulolo and Wau Waria Districts, the Morobe Provincial Administration, District Development Authorities (DDAs), the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), and Kumul Minerals Holdings Ltd to control alluvial mining, especially in areas such as Sambio and Pine Tops where dredging operations damage national road infrastructure.

These recurrent failures are largely man-made disasters. District-level management and enforcement of environmental and mining regulations are critical to protecting public infrastructure investments worth millions of Kina.

6. Government Commitment
The Marape Rosso Government remains fully committed to upgrading and maintaining strategic national highways, including the Trans-National Highway corridor, under the Connect PNG Program to ensure safe, reliable, and climate-resilient connectivity nationwide.

A loan has been secured from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and design works from Nentino to Bulolo are in final stages. Bulolo to Lae was designed under AIFFP, and Kumalu crossing was fully funded by the PNG Government, with further funding sought from development partners for a permanent structure.

“We Connect PNG now to build our future.”

Authorized by
Hon. Solan Mirisim, MP
Minister for Works and Highways