The people residing in some of the remote parts of the West Sepik province can expect improved road access in the near future to access vital services and development.

This will be realized through the proposed construction of the Sepik Highway portion in the West Sepik province, which was just given the go ahead by the Governor General in Port Moresby city today.

H.E. Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, GCL, GCMG, KStJ, Governor General of Papua New Guinea, executed on behalf of the State the two multi-million Kina road contracts for West Sepik province at the Government House in Konedobu.

This is the first contract for the design and construction of Sepik Highway from Warasikau Bridge (CH168+402km) to Lumi-Karaitem Road (CH257+754km) – 89.352km Road under the Connect PNG Program for West Sepik province.

The contract is valued at K374, 290, 710.69, inclusive of GST, and contingency. The duration of the contract is 60 months, which should take about 5 years to complete.

The Department of Works and Highways has accepted the bid by China Railway Construction Engineering Group (PNG) Limited, to carry out the design and construction of the Sepik Highway.

Company representatives Klaus Jiang and Jeremy Zhu signed the contract before the Governor General, witnessed by Works & Highways Department Secretary Gibson Holemba at Government House this morning.

Meanwhile, the second contract executed by the Governor General is for the design and construction of 186.9km Vanimo-Green Road from Daunda Junction to Vanimo Town to Green River Station in West Sepik province.

The contract is valued at K726, 238, 596. 46, inclusive of GST and contingency. This one should take 6 years to complete.

According to Secretary Holemba, the proposed road works falls within the Department’s statutory road management and technical oversight responsibilities under the Road (Management and Fund) Act 2020 and are consistent with the Government’s approved national road development and connectivity objectives under the Connect PNG Programme.

The National Executive Council (NEC) has approved to award the contract to China Harbor Engineering Company (PNG) Limited. Company representatives Qi Zinhua and Deng Yongxing signed the contract before the Governor General and witnessed by Works & Highway Secretary Gibson Holemba at Government House today.