Works Secretary Commends Government's Historic Investment in West Sepik Infrastructure

Vanimo Town saw hundreds of people gathered at the Pope Francis Oval. School children, young adults, men and women of all ages anticipating with excitement to see the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea who will officially launch the major infrastructure projects of the Greater Sepik Region in the Momase Corridor under the Connect PNG Program. The ceremony took place on Friday 10th July with a huge turn out as they waited since morning.

Secretary for Works and Highways Mr. Gibson Holemba acknowledged Prime Minister Hon. James Marape for his continued commitment to the Department of Works and Highways, thanking him for consistently making time to attend major Works events. He also acknowledged the presence of Sandaun Governor Hon. Tony Wouwou and the province's four Open Members, describing their collective attendance as a significant show of unity and support for the development of West Sepik Province.

Mr. Holemba paid tribute to the late former Minister for Works and Highways, Hon. Solan Mirisim, acknowledging his vision and commitment to improving road connectivity in West Sepik Province.

He said many of the projects being launched and commissioned were initiated under the late Minister's leadership and reflected his dedication to improving the lives of the people of Sandaun.

Secretary said, the Marape-Rosso Government had made an unprecedented investment of more than K2 billion in road infrastructure across West Sepik Province, describing it as the largest funding allocation the province had ever received for transport infrastructure project.

Reflecting on his own experience, Mr. Holemba recalled travelling from Vanimo to Aitape in 2020, when there was no proper road connection between the two centres.

He said the journey took approximately 14 hours through difficult road condition, which forced him to spend the night along the route because of poor road conditions.

Today, he said, the same journey can be completed in approximately six hours, demonstrating the significant progress made under the Government's Connect PNG Program.

Mr. Holemba said communities that once struggled to access essential government services were now benefiting from improved road connectivity. The people of Nuku previously travelled to Maprik and Wewak to access services due to the lack of a direct road to Vanimo. With the completion of the Aitape-Lumi-Vanimo road connection, people can now travel directly between Nuku and Vanimo, greatly improving access to markets, health services, education and government services.

He said the achievements reflected the Government's vision of connecting communities and delivering essential services to rural Papua New Guinea.

During the occasion, the Prime Minister officially launched and commissioned several major infrastructure projects, including the:

• Wara Sikau–Lumi Karaitem Major Road Project (86 kilometres);
• Vanimo–Green River Road Project (186 kilometres);
• Opening of a new 4-in-1 classroom at Vanimo Primary School;
• Launch of three major infrastructure projects funded under the Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme (ITCS) by Ok Tedi Mining Limited; and
• New Edwaki Access Road, including the Kaiku Bridge.

Mr. Holemba also highlighted ongoing works along the Sawmill Junction–Pasi–Black Wara–Bapa Bridge, which is being delivered in three phases to improve accessibility for surrounding communities.

He further announced that West Sepik Province now has four gazetted National Highways following the Government's February 2025 gazettal. In addition to the existing Sepik Highway and Coastal Highway, the newly gazetted Telefomin Highway and Sandaun Border Highway will further strengthen the province's transport network. He further emphasized that the Sandaun Boarder Highway is the only International Highway

The Secretary said West Sepik plays a strategic role under the Connect PNG Program through the Momase Corridor, which stretches from Wutung on the PNG-Indonesian border to Watarais in Morobe Province and serves as Papua New Guinea's only international highway corridor.

He said the Government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia to facilitate cross-border vehicle movement between Jayapura and Vanimo. Work is now underway between the Department of Transport, Road Traffic Authority and Indonesian counterparts to finalise the necessary Standard Operating Procedures, including traffic management arrangements to accommodate Papua New Guinea's right-hand drive system and Indonesia's left-hand drive system.

Mr. Holemba said once operational, the arrangement would allow the safe movement of people, vehicles and cargo across the border, significantly enhancing trade and economic opportunities between the two countries.

He further revealed that a comprehensive feasibility study funded through the Asian Development Bank had been completed for the proposed Wutung–Wewak highway, covering approximately 400 kilometres of road, 60 bridges and upgrades to the Vanimo and Wewak wharves.

The study report is now ready for Cabinet consideration before progressing through the necessary parliamentary approval processes for implementation.

The Secretary said two of the largest road projects announced for West Sepik have a combined value of almost K1.2 billion, including approximately K724 million for the Vanimo–Green River Road Project and more than K370 million for the Wara Sikau–Lumi Karaitem section of the Sepik Highway.

He said both projects would involve the construction of new bridges and fully sealed bitumen roads built to modern engineering standards.

Mr. Holemba also announced that the Government had officially extended the Sepik Highway beyond Karaitem to connect with the Coastal Highway, further strengthening connectivity throughout the province.

Beyond road construction, the Department has also continued supporting community infrastructure. He said the newly completed 4-in-1 classroom at Vanimo Primary School fulfilled a commitment made by the late Minister Solan Mirisim during the Department's Field Staff Conference last year. The classroom was constructed through savings realised from road project funding where Works will help in building through our projects in our engineer’s establishment to do the job.

Mr. Holemba said the Connect PNG Program is transforming remote communities across the country, pointing to successful road connections in Menyamya, Kerema, Karamui, Simbai and now Edwaki in West Sepik Province, where a vehicle has reached the station for the first time in more than 50 years.

He also stated that communities in Telefomin, which previously had no road access, are now able to travel by road to Kiunga and Tabubil on daily basis, creating new opportunities for economic growth and improved access to services.

Mr. Holemba said the road projects demonstrate the Government's commitment to ensuring all four districts of West Sepik are connected by road and expressed confidence that the road to Aitape Township would be fully sealed by the end of this year or early next year.

Mr. Holemba also appealed to local leaders and the provincial government to work with the Department to regulate overloaded logging trucks operating on newly constructed roads.

He said national roads are designed to carry a maximum load of 44 tonnes, and excessive overloading by logging vehicles significantly shortens the lifespan of the infrastructure.

The Department will undertake load studies in partnership with the Road Traffic Authority and the Provincial Government to introduce appropriate enforcement measures.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Holemba welcomed the participation of contractors China Harbour Engineering Company and China Railway, describing them as globally recognised construction companies with the technical capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects efficiently.

He said China Harbour Engineering Company will construct the Vanimo–Green River Highway (186KM), while China Railway will deliver the Wara Sikau–Lumi section of the Sepik Highway (86KM).

Mr. Holemba said the projects represent a historic milestone for the people of Vanimo-Green, Aitape-Lumi, Nuku and the wider West Sepik Province as the Government continues to deliver on its commitment to connect Papua New Guinea through the Connect PNG Program.