Photo credit: Mapio
The New Britain Highway, which connects Kimbe in West New Britain with Kokopo in East New Britain, has been given a K138.5 million contract, according to James Marape.
Cabinet authorised K1.4 billion for new road contracts around the country, including the New Britain Highway, last week.
PM Marape stated this in Parliament in response to a query from Governor of West New Britain, Hon. On the Hoskins-Kimbe Road, Sasindran Muthuvel.
The New Britain Highway runs via Hoskins and Kimbe.
“I want to assure the Governor that a contract has been awarded for the New Britain Highway linking Kimbe to Kokopo,” he said.
“This is an important economic corridor.
“We acknowledge the contribution of that part of the country.”
Governor Muthuvel said his region was currently in the midst of the rainy season, and he was concerned about road damage.
People from Hoskins had sent him a petition over the crumbling roads in the oil palm-rich region, he added.
Governor Muthuvel claimed the Hoskins-Kimbe Road was deteriorating and urged Prime Minister Marape to assure him that it will be repaired.
“Last year, we did release some funding for this section,” PM Marape said.
“Some work has already taken place.
“This is not adequate to do a long stretch, however, some more funding will be released this year.”
Reference: Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council (19 January 2022). “PM Marape announces k138.5 contract for New Britain Highway”.
