Money Blo Ples

CONNECTED at last – and now people can travel from Port Moresby to Lae and vice versa by road following the completion of the transnational highway last weekend.

Works and Highways Department secretary Gibson Holemba said yesterday: "I can confirm that the transnational highway is linked and people can travel once gravelling is completed.

The road will officially be opened in June, with the prime minister's maiden drive from Port Moresby to Lae.

The successful connection is a major milestone under the Connect PNG programme.

The project is expected to improve connectivity between people, markets, schools and health services, while also creating new economic opportunities for rural communities."

Holemba told The National that the new transnational highway was about 168km long and built at a cost of K60 million.

Last weekend, the department's Morobe and Gulf teams met at the border, marking the completion of the road link which many had long considered impossible, because of the rugged terrain, rivers and dense jungle.

A member of the Morobe team later related: "After we drove past where our earth-moving machines were working, an excavator from the Gulf side appeared from the other side to meet us at the Ipayu market."

The two excavators placed their buckets together, marking a historic meeting in the bush.

Members of the team then drove down to Kotidanga, Mawera and back.

"No vehicles had ever driven from Morobe all the way to that location before, and Saturday was the first time it happened," an official said.

Holemba said the road was constructed under a day-labour arrangement with the plan and transport services division.

Department officials and locals celebrated as the northern and southern corridors were linked for the first time through the transnational highway.

Holemba said the gravelling stage should be completed soon, depending on the weather.

Prime Minister James Marape is expected to travel along the road once gravelling is completed, he added.

For decades, people from the two provinces lived as neighbours, but separated by mountains and rough terrain, with limited access to roads and government services.

Now farmers in Gulf are expected to access markets in Morobe.

Businesses will benefit too, from reduced transport costs and travel time.

The department is, however, warning the public to await the completion of the gravelling by next month.

"At this stage, only Works and Highways Department staff and authorised contractors are permitted to use the road," it said.

"Public motor vehicles have been advised to refrain from travelling.

"Once final works are completed and the road is officially opened to the public, the highway is expected to unlock trade, tourism and stronger social links for thousands of Papua New Guineans."

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