US$3bn loan sought by Papua New Guinea government to upgrade key road

Powes Parkop, the Governor of National Capital District (NDC) Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG), says US $ 305.13 million (PGK 629mn) is being sought by the provincial government for road improvements. Of the targeted total, PGK 600mn is earmarked for the 2013 upgrade of several major routes including the Kookabara Street-Sir John Guise Drive flyover, the Erima roundabout, and the Paga Hill ring road. Some of the sum will also be allocated to build a four-lane road to link Bautama with Gerehu in preparati

Under the latest tranche of the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme, 45 of the estimated 71 bridges will be completely replaced.

Papua New Guinea is set to start road and bridge upgrades that could cost upwards of US$576 million. Work on bridges will be paid partly through agreements with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, amounting to around US$53 million, and the Asian Development Bank which is putting in nearly $32 million. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has also earmarked $101 million to upgrade of arterial roads to standard concrete in the port city of Lae, the capital of Morobe Province. Lae, the

Justin Tkatchenko, foreign affairs minister of Papua New Guinea, said the bridges will allow local populations in remote areas to more easily access health care.