Since taking Office in 2019 and continuing his tenure as the Prime Minister after the recent elections, Hon James Marape has always been adamant about connecting the whole of Papua New Guinea through a road network that links the whole nation.
Prime Minister Marape continues to be vocal about the Connect PNG Program of which his government has already commenced work on and ensuring funds are available to realize his vision.
The Marape-Rosso Government has now legislated the Connect PNG Program making it legally binding for the following two decades. This will now make certain successive governments obliged to make funding available for the program, which began in 2020 and will conclude in 2040. The anticipated overall cost is estimated at K20 billion.
This is a prime public funded infrastructure improvement ever undertaken in the last forty seven years. Within this remaining month, the people of Papua New Guinea will witness the launching of 3 of the six roads recognized to be funded under the Connect PNG Program.
They are the Manus East West Highway, which was launched on November 3, Vanimo-Wewak Coastal Highway, which was launched on November 17 and East and West New Britain Highway, which is to be launched before the end of the year.
During the launching of the Wewak to Aitape Road Upgrading and Sealing Project under the Connect PNG Program, Minister for Works and Highway Hon. Solan Mirisim emphasised that the Marape-Rosso Government is devoted to empowering all Papua New Guineans with sustainable road connectivity and accessibility to an entire variety of activities inclusive of easy access basic goods and services and easy access to sell their cash crops and market their fresh produce.
“I must highlight and emphasise that the Connect PNG Program is a National Roads Infrastructure Development Program implemented in all regions and provinces. It involves improving existing key economic roads and constructing the missing links,” he said.
“In the medium term, the program aims to connect the Momase and Highlands Regions to the Southern Region through the Trans-national Highway by 2025.
“For the long term, the program aims to have 100 percent road connectivity from the Wutung Border Post all the way to the East Cape in Milne Bay Province.
The Minister for Works and Highways said the Sepik Coastal Highway is part of a larger road network under the Connect PNG program that is considered as the Momase Economic Road Corridor that starts from the Wutung Border Post, passing through East Sepik and Madang provinces and ending in Morobe Province.
“Marape-Rosso Government recognises the strategic importance of the Momase Economic Corridor Road Network and its huge potential to effect socio-economic development in the Momase Region and PNG as a whole.” Mr Mirisim said the Sepik Coastal Highway is valued at K139.85 million. An initial funding of 10 percent of the total value has already been paid to the local Contractor, Green Hills Limited and the road works will cover 40 kilometres of the 1,318 kilometres of the Momase Economic Corridor Road network.
