The Hiritano and Trans Highway that link NCD, Central and Gulf Provinces has not received any major funding from the past and current government in order for a major road upgrade work to be undertaken.
Works Minister Michael Nali revealed this in parliament recently when responding to questions by Kairuku Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo on what the Department of Works has done to address the deteriorating sections of the highway.
Isoaimo said officers at the Works Department have been entertaining incompetent road contractors over the years while depleting the funds allocated by the national government last year with K10million and K8 million this year.
“Officers within the department, especially the high impact project division are doing all these dubious claims with contractors and are paying millions of kina out when good contractors can be engaged to do a good job out of it that lasts,” Mr Isoaimo said.
“I thank the World Bank for taking on the Kuriva-Brown River portion, I also learned through the minister that there’s another variation for Brown River to Tasiama, another 10 kilometres.”
“Can he confirm to the people of Kairuku-Hiri through this house when that 10 kilometre variation will take place?”
In response, Minister Nali said many roads around the country including the Hiritano Highway have fallen apart because of lack of funds.
“In order for us to rehabilitate and reseal one particular section of the highway, it will cost the Department of Works K3.5 million per kilometre depending on where the materials are and the condition of the road itself,” Mr Nali said.
“Talking about K8 million or K10 million, you cannot rehabilitate a major section of the highway with that kind of money so what the department does is it tries to spend that K8 million or K10 million funding right through the whole section of that particular road so that’s why the department is not doing any major rehabilitation work.”
He further said the sectional road upgrade along the Hiritano highway was made possible through the World Bank funding assistance.
“The sectional road upgrade done from Kuriva to Bereina through the World Bank assistance is a patch up work that was very well done by the local contractor engaged.”
“It’s not a major rehabilitation, meaning that its a major reconstruction work, this is more or less like a patch up work but the contractor, Dekenai Construction has done a very good job,” Mr Nali said.
“The member is correct in saying the section between Laloki and Brown River has really deteriorated badly, however the road work has not started as yet because it is also a World Bank funded project and there are a lot of processes to observe.”
“But as soon as all the formalities are signed, work will begin.”