K399m Highlands highway contract signed

Caption:   Minister Awesa (left seated) and CMEC Vice President Chunsheng (middle seated)

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

THE National Government is heading full steam ahead with the Highlands Highway Rehabilitation Program, through the departments of Works and Transport- with a second contract signing for the reconstruction of a 20.6km stretch from Western Highland to Southern Highlands Provinces, by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), yesterday at Government House in Port Moresby.

It will be from Kisenepoi Junction Turnoff to the Kaguel Bridge at the cost of over K399 million, which the National Government is counter funding with K150 million- with the remainder to come from EXIM Bank through a loan.

The contract will start next year and will take three years to complete with major design features to suit various sections of the highway, meeting world standards in road construction.

This will be second contract signing in just under a week since the first singing last week (see other story) as part of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s announcement that 2013 is the year of implementation.

Minister for Works Francis Awesa said that he was privileged to be a part of a government that is aggressive in its approach in addressing infrastructure issues in the country.

“This is a major undertaking by the government- it was a promise made by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government.”

“It was in the Alotau Accord that the government made a commitment to help the business community, who have struggled for years with the current deterioration of the road,” he said.

Awesa made mention of important features in the contract that were included and have not been done before, that the contract is fixed and that there would be no variation in it, where the contractor will not come back to charge more for what was already agreed and signed for.

CMEC has given a 20 year guarantee for any major defects in the pavement infrastructure, and a 40 year for any major structural damages to other infrastructure assets that come with the road; like bridges and drains, which is the first of its kind practiced in the country.

Also included in the contract is a condition for 30 per cent engagement of local contractors to be used, through sub-contracts.

Vice President of CMEC, Jin Chunsheng, said that he was glad to participate in this signing ceremony of the vital project- elaborating on the significance of transportation infrastructure in PNGs growing economy and his company’s commitment to deliver.

“The economic development of the country very much depends on transportation infrastructure.

“We are very confident that we will deliver the project and hope to expand our business with the ministry, and the government of PNG,” he said.

Minister Awesa commended Secretary for Transport Roy Mumu, Secretary for Works David Wereh, Interim Director of Infrastructure Development Authority John Kaio, the management of the National Roads Authority, and all the engineers that worked very hard to deliver the projects.

“We are working very hard to deliver the other sections as well, not forgetting the other infrastructure projects we have promised like Madang-Ramu, Madang-Wewak, and Gulf-Hela- these are important projects and the government is committed to them,” he added.