Developed under the Marape government, the Department of Works Connect PNG Policy 2020-2040 guides the development of vital road links in the country which aims to connect communities across PNG for an increase to untapped economic potential, especially for SMEs and agriculture.
This project highlights road transport as the dominant road in the PNG and as part of the vision 2050, apart from electricity airport development, energy and power supply. It is part of the government’s response in alleviating the road problem in PNG and will construct, repair and rehabilitate a total length of 4,200km of standard 2 lane economic highways and 16,000km of provincial and district main backbone highway. at a price of K20 billion in a span of five years.
The first five years will upgrade, rehabilitate, and maintain existing roads with a length of 2,000km and construction of new missing links at 1,300km and connecting provincial district roads at 5,000km. All these at an estimated cost of K5 billion.
The construction works include:
K2 billion worth of contracts for the national highways sub-national roads
New tenders pried at K1.44 billion of projects covering 554km on the core road network
New tenders worth K300 million and year rolling contracts that cover 5,000km major district and provincial roads
Ongoing new tenders equal to K7.5 billion or K1.5 billion a year
The budget, however, can only afford K500 to K700 million a year as compared to the spending of K1.5 billion a year - which may create a shortfall of K1 billion generated through foreign governments such as trade partners in China and Australia.
