Port Moresby business leaders have welcomed a Cabinet decision to spend more than K700m (US$320m) on six major road projects for the National Capital District.

Credit: DreamzMedia

‘The road projects will ease traffic congestion and improve traffic flow, and give our capital a big facelift,’ said Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

K400 million will come from the national budget while K300 million will be a soft loan from the EXIM Bank of China.

David Conn, Chief Executive Officer of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI), says the improvements will prove as ‘a game changer’ for the city of Port Moresby, and will open up large tracts of the city for further development.

‘The big question now for many of our business houses will be how long the actual work will take as  the disruption and detours  are a necessary part of repairing the city’s crumbling infrastructure. Port Moresby will grow on these roads, as they become vital arteries for business and the community to grow upon. This is the sort of vision our nation’s capital has lacked for so long.

It is hoped that the projects will be completed by the time PNG hosts the 2015 South Pacific Games and the 2018 APEC Meetings and the APEC Leaders Summit.

The six road projects

1. Gerehu to Hanuabada (K196 million). This four-lane 10.7 km divided road will be constructed to an international arterial standard by China Harbour Engineering Company PNG Ltd
2. Gerehu to 9 Mile (K122 million). This four-lane 8.0 km will be constructed to international standard by China Harbour Engineering Company PNG Ltd
3. Gordons Industrial Roads Stage 2 (K85 million). This project is the second phase of the upgrade of roads in the industrial hub of the capital city, to be carried out by Global Construction
4. Kookaburra Road (K160 million). This road connects the Sir John Guise Drive to the Hubert Murray Highway with a flyover at the Erima Junction, to be constructed by Hawkins PNG Ltd. The flyover is expected to be a masterpiece attraction
5. Erima to 9 Mile (K77 million). This 4.3 km road with a four-lane bridge will be constructed by Dekenai Construction
6. Morea Tobo Road (K57 million). 1.2 km of this road will be four-lane, while the rest of the associated roads (4.7 km) will be two-lane.