The Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) launched the 2025 revision of the Seismic Design Manual for Bridges in Papua New Guinea at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday.
Papua New Guinea is located where three major tectonic plates meet, making it one of the most earthquake prone regions in the world.
Major earthquakes, including those in Madang in 1971, Bialla in 1985 and the Southern Highlands in 2018, have caused serious damage to bridges and other infrastructure.
Understanding and mitigating the effects of seismic hazards is therefore a critical priority for civil and structural engineers in the country.
Thus, the Department of Works later identified the need for a revision to ensure an up-to-date guide and so they launch it.
Speaking at the launch yesterday, Secretary Gibson Holemba said safe and strong bridge design must be treated as a national development priority and a public safety responsibility.
“Resilient bridge design must therefore be treated as a national development agenda and public safety obligation,” he said.
He urged the engineers and consultants to carry out proper research and consider future earthquake risks when designing bridges, roads and buildings.
The Secretory said the previous earthquake engineering manual for bridges in PNG was written in 1985 and had been used for about 40 years.
“Engineering, science, materials and analytical methods, and our understanding of seismic risks have advanced significantly,” he said.
Mr. Holemba said the revised manual provides engineers with updated information and methods to improve the design of bridges across the country.
He stressed that bridge, road and building projects must be supported by proper site investigations, geotechnical assessments, seismic calculations, approved drawings, technical reviews, material test results and construction records.
Projects must also be certified by qualified registered engineers.
Mr. Holemba acknowledged the Australian Government and Geoscience Australia for funding and carrying out the recent probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and risk assessment study for PNG.
The study produced new seismic hazard maps and design risk factors for different seismic zones in the country. These updated findings have now been included in the revised bridge design manual.
The Department of Works and Highways, he said, will progressively use the new manual in project planning, design briefs, tender documents, technical specifications, design reviews, construction and asset acceptance procedures.
“All new bridge projects must now demonstrate compliance from today onwards,” Mr. Holemba said.
He said the requirement will apply to projects funded by either the national government, development partners, tax credits, provinces, districts and or other funding arrangements.
The Secretary urged the engineers to properly assess, evaluate and do proper records.
“Our engineers, we have a bigger role to play in the success of our country,” he said.
Mr. Holemba said the launch should begin a new era of engineering responsibility in PNG, where bridges are based on sound science, designed to approved standards, built properly and maintained throughout their service life.
Attending the event were the entire management team from Unitech. Chancellor Ms. Chiranok, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rawenaki, head of the School of Civil Engineering, Prof. Sana, senior lecturers, engineers and consultants from Geoscience Australia led by Mr. Edwards, and other senior staffs and engineers from the Department of Works.
On behalf of the Minister for Works, Mr. Holemba and Ms. Richelle Turner cut the ribbon to officially launch the 2025 Revision of the Sesmic Design Manual for Bridges in Papua New Guinea.