Caption: Artist impression of the project once completed
Caption: The PM and CEO of Hawkins, flanked by MPs and the company executives
Caption: Workers involved in the project
Caption: Work currently underway on-site
By MATTHEW VARI
Sunday, March 2, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)
Many of the world’s greatest cities boast infrastructure that border on being one of convenience and that of prestige. The types of infrastructure that leave a lasting imprint in the minds of the travelling business men and women, and the witty tourists that come through them on a daily basis. It is the infrastructure that gives face value as to how a city is being run and managed, and more or less what the state of economic growth a city or more or less a country has experienced.
With the state of the Papua New Guinean economy being a healthy one, at rates never seen before over the last 10 years- one would only see that change is really happening in the nation’s capital, in terms of roads, and a hype in construction projects that are reaching for the Port Moresby skyline.
I have never been to New York, or Sydney for that matter, but one does not need to be there to know mega marvel infrastructure projects like the Brooklyn Bridge (built in 1883) in New York, or the Sydney Harbor Bridge (in the 1920s) have all given that true face value of how majestic these cities have evolved- yet as if time stood still manmade wonders such as those have stood the test of time.
Songs, movies, issues, and business have all evolved around such places, giving a face value as to how important they are not only as infrastructure but landmarks and symbols of the freedom and prosperity.
Port Moresby will now shift what was once its biggest road infrastructure project, the Poreporena Freeway, to the new Kookaburra Street Flyover Project which will see a flyover bridge being built to connect Jacksons International Airport to the Sir John Guise Stadium. Due for completion before the South Pacific Games, the flyover will be the largest for this part of the Pacific atapproximately600mlong, with four lanes constructed of concrete precast panels.
The design construction is being done by Hawkins PNG, with the concept and detailed design work fast tracked by a team of up to 20 engineers from Hawkins and design partner Opus International Consultants. Meeting the design milestone has allowed initial site clearance, service relocation, and earthworks to commence on site- along with establishment of a purpose built precast facility to manufacture the precast panels.
The construction of the flyover and associated roads will significantly improve traffic congestion during the South Pacific Games and reduce the travelling times by providing a direct route from Waigani to Erima, Jacksons Airport, and 7 mile area– which will be of huge benefit to officials and the general public during the Games and beyond. The new roadway will also reduce congestion in a number of other surrounding suburbs, with reduced travelling time therefore improving productivity for businesses, who have long suffered with the chronic traffic congestion always experienced in the area.
Seth Pardoe, Hawkins PNG Ltd Country Manager explained the benefits this project will have for the local economy.
“Not only will the new roadway free up traffic congestion associated with the Erima roundabout and divert traffic away from other pressure points around Waigani, Gordons, Erima, Boroko, 6 Mile and 7 Mile‐ it will provide a direct route from Waigani to Erima and the airport and 7 mile area‐and vice versa,” he said.
“The scale of this project also stimulates economic benefits in a number of areas, including increased employment, skills based training and development, and expenditure on materials and supply chain at all levels, also accommodation, food and beverage, entertainment, and GSTand taxes.”
Scope of construction work:
2.2km four lane freeway from the Jackson Airport roundabout to the Sir John Guise roundabout in Waigani.
600m four lane concrete flyover elevated above the Erima Roundabout, concrete abutments.
Associated site works including retaining walls, footpaths, service relocations, bus stop, street lighting and drainage.
New roundabout at Magani Drive intersection.
Valued at just over K160 million, work to completion will take around 109 weeks with site investigation and design that has already been carried out for the first three to four months and is now in the construction phase.
Speaking at the launching of the project last week, which included distinguished guests like the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Governor for NCD Powes Parkop, Minister for Sports Justin Tkatchenko, Member for Moresby North East Labi Amaiu, New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG Marion Crenshaw, City Manager for NCD Leslie Alu, and the Hawkins Group Chief Executive Geoff Hunt.
Hawkins CEO Geoff Hunt said that the vision for the flyover was one that it will become an iconic feature of Port Moresby’s landscape on leaving Jackson’s Airport, symbolizing a fast growing economy and progressive country, something Hawkins Group and its employees will be very proud to be a part of.
“This is a very proud day for Hawkins, and we are here to formally open our project after many months of preparation,” Hunt said.
“Prime Minister it has been and your government that has provided this project and that makes today very special.”
“Hawkins will deliver this project in time for the pacific Games and during the last 6 months Hawkins has actually achieved a lot, but much of it has been behind the scenes.”
“We have a team of 20 engineers, we have had a purpose built concrete fetching plant in the United States, and the components are brought over and assembled here.”
“Now that we have all the elements in place to accelerate this project out of the starting blocks, and it is going to provide an interest for people providing that in PNG, to drive down that piece of road is something to be proud of,” he added.
Hawkins has some of the most complex buildings and infrastructure in New Zealand and they specialize in roads, bridges, pipelines, waste water treatment plants, irrigation schemes, wharves, airports, and power stations.
The group is a K1.4 billion kina turnover group, it is a large family business owned by the McConnel family, who have been in the industry for over half a century. They currently are tendering projects in Fiji, Philippines, Kenya, and Indonesia.
In his address to those present, the host Member for the project Labi Amaiu termed the start of the project as being one of historical significance. The member also credited the O’Neill Dion Government under the leadership of the prime minister for the foresight to ensuring the project went ahead unimpeded.
“Being the host of this project here, you would have seen that past governments have not seen any projects of such a magnitude undertaken here,” Amaiu said.
“I want to thank the O’Neill Dion Government, under the leadership of our Prime Minister peter O’Neill, for giving the priority to this electorate and this city, that will not only benefit the residents of Port Moresby and its residents, but the nation as a whole.”
“This overhead bridge, that will be connecting the Sir John Guise Stadium and the Jacksons International Airport; will not only change the face of the city but also the country’s National Capital.”
“This project is a milestone project, which will have an historical impact that will leave a long legacy in the years to come- and I am proud to be a partner with the Hawkins Group who will see this project become a reality.”
Governor of NCD, who has been in the forefront the many of the major developments in NCD emphasized that the overhead bridge would serve more than what is meant to do. He said that it would be a symbol for the country’s ability to build world class infrastructure. Also highlighting that need to invest in the city as the gateway to the nation.
“More importantly it will show that our country is able to build these types of infrastructure to facilitate the development of our people,” he said.
“The commitment in terms of financial resources that come into the city is historical in itself to fund the games- not only for the games but to leave a legacy for the development and modernization for our city.”
“Our PM has the same shared vision we have- our city might be viewed as a parasite city in terms of our direct contribution to the national economy, however, we are the ones that facilitate the develop the country.”
“On behalf of our residents and the country I want to thank your vision to target the main four city centers that will be the major population growth centers of our country-it is a valid analysis and strategy.”
With Port Moresby forecasted to have more than a million residents by 2020. The focus by the government to the city is a valid commitment to continue the facilitation of the city as the business hub of the country. With funding from the national Government to all major infrastructure projects in the country, it will surpass over K1.7 billion to close to K2 billion, which is a major investment that the state has undertaken.
An investment Prime Minister O’Neill, says is worth the cost as major investment have gone into the hosting of the South Pacific Games.
“I know that this is an important project for the city that has been long coming, and many of us know that this cannot happen without the support of many people, many people including the members of our government and the National Executive Council, but more so the Governor of NCD and the members of the NCD Commission.”
“The long standing commitment and perseverance has enabled the engagement of our government in making sure that some of the major infrastructure projects in the city get off the ground,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.
“I know that because of the 2015 games it has put extra burden on us to try and deliver these projects on time, but I want to especially thank the minister for sport and South Pacific Games for his leadership in making sure that these projects run on time so that we can deliver the best games that the South pacific has ever given.”
“I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the government that our commitment is there, and we want to see these projects completed on time and delivered to our country.”
“Why we are targeting these four cities in the initial stages of the development of our country is because of citizens who are now going to live around those cities.”
“When you look at the Pacific, it (Port Moresby) is going to be the fifth biggest city apart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland, and in terms of population it will be the same.”
“By standards those are big populations we are looking at in our major city centers and our own country’s population- these four cities will represent over half of our country’s total population living in one place at any given time.”
“You know that this is a big task for any government, making sure that there is infrastructure to meet that kind of growth for the population and the demands that they place.”
Sentiments that are true in nature, and when the pillars stand tall in time for the games in 2015, commuters will stare in wonder at how far we have come from a young country to one that is mature at our 40 years anniversary. It will be a time when we will not only host another wonderful games for the Pacific, but also host a legacy that will last more than a lifetime in the years to come- all starting with the flyover bridge from the airport that will be the face of the city.
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