By Bradley Mariori
Industry organizations are jointly raising concerns over the deplorable state of the Bulolo National highway.
In a joint statement to Prime Minister James Marape, the Farmers and Settlers Association, Poultry Indsutry Association, the Lae Chamber of Commerce and PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, are calling for serious consideration to be given to this critical link as the statement described the highway as a major economic impact road.
“It is a critical road to open the hinterlands and give access to the forgotten people in the remote communities,” the statement said.
According to the joint statement, this road provides access for alluvial; and small-scale mining, the Hidden Valley and Wafi Golpu mining, timber, prefabricated buildings, eggs, chicken, cattle, coffee, cocoa and fresh produce that generates tax through employment and other income earning opportunities for the six districts that the road runs through across three provinces.
“There are many businesses that use the Bulolo National Highway and the repair and maintenance to critical infrastructures is necessary to minimize disruptions to businesses and keep prices down,” the statement indicated.
It was confirmed that to date, the road has been maintained for Okuk Highway (Lae district) to Gabensis (Huon Gulf district) for 25 kilometres and some gravel work to Gurakor (Bulolo district) for another 15 kilometres.
From 2019 to 2025, the road has deteriorated with most of the sealed road gone with most parts broken, flooded and impassable during rainy season.
The funding from 2019 to 2025 has barely gone past Gabensis.
It is understood that the same call for maintenance was made in parliament in 2015 by the then Wau-Bulolo MP late Sam Basil which was again communicated to the Works and Highways department in 2017, then to the Morobe Tutumang in 2019.
Various representations to the Works and Highways department by industry associations resulted in the Australian government interventions for remedial maintenance (K11 million in 2019, K18 million in 2020).
In June 2021, the Australian government through the Transport Sector Support Program committed K65 million for full maintenance of the highway from Markham Bridge to Wau town.
A feasibility study was also launched in 2021 and construction of missing links in the transnational highway running from Menyamya to Kaintiba to Murua-Epo and into the Haiveta highway.
The PNG government also counter funded the Australian funding component with K50 million.
