The Port Moresby–Lae Transnational Highway is open to traffic, with trucks and other vehicles using the route despite ongoing construction and maintenance works, Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba confirmed during a contract signing in Port Moresby this month.
Mr. Holemba was responding to a question from PNG SUN during the Jimi Bridge contract signing about the highway’s accessibility, particularly as airfares from Port Moresby to the Highlands provinces are expected to increase towards the peak Christmas period.
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In response, Mr. Holemba confirmed that the road was open and carrying traffic.
“Right now, as we speak, there’s trucks, high traffic, traveling,” he said.
He said motorists were travelling along the newly constructed highway but warned drivers to exercise extra caution when using the route.
Mr. Holemba said improved weather conditions in the mountainous sections had made road travel possible, although motorists remained responsible for managing the risks.
“So, there’s no longer raining up in the mountains so you can drive. The risk is yours,” he said.
He said construction and improvement works were continuing, with departmental teams remobilized to work on sections requiring gravel, culverts, bridges and mountain slope reductions.
“We are working on it. Our team is mobilized back to site. They are putting up gravel on the sections that need gravel,” he said.
Mr. Holemba said workers were also installing culverts, constructing several bridges and reducing the height of steep mountain slopes to improve road conditions.
“So, we’re targeting around four or five slopes that need to be reduced. And then eventually by Christmas, we should remove our equipments back to service. And then our small contractors, will start working on specific maintenance,” he said.
He said the Department of Works and Highways planned to have its Plant Division continue opening up the road, while contractors would follow behind to undertake maintenance and upgrading works.
“So, our target is that our team will continue to punch, and then the contractor will come at the back end and then start tidying up and do the specific maintenance,” he said.
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Mr. Holemba said the department was rebuilding its Plant Division’s capacity to work on missing links and manage construction and maintenance costs.
He reiterated that although construction was still underway, the highway remained accessible to motorists.
“You can drive,” he said.