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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

K13 million study of Ramu Highway upgrade

Australian High Commission

A major upgrade to one of Papua New Guinea’s national priority highways will be scoped and designed following a contract signing on November10,  2014.
The scope and design study of the Ramu-Madang Highway is part the Joint Understanding between Australia and Papua New Guinea on Further Bilateral Cooperation on Health, Education and Law and Order. 
A section of the Ramu-Madang Highway.-Picture courtesy of Australian High Commission

 The K13 million study will examine ways to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, flood resilience and traffic capacity, while decreasing maintenance costs and travel times. It will also examine any alternative routes under consideration.
 “The study will support economic investment along the Ramu Highway and adjacent areas, as well as offering an alternative corridor from the Highlands to coastal ports,” Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, said.
 Secretary of the Department of Works, Mr David Wereh, noted the Ramu Highway Scoping and Design Study will contribute to the strategic objectives outlined in the PNG Medium Term Development Plan and the National Transport Strategy.
 “The Ramu Highway is one of 16 national priority highways in PNG. The highway is a key transport link between Lae and Madang and supports important mining and agro-industrial activities, specifically beef, sugar and palm oil production. PNG appreciates the Australian Government’s support for the study and options for reconstruction,” Mr Wereh said.
 The contract is part of the PNG-Australia Transport Sector Support Program - Australia’s long-term commitment to support the development of PNG’s transport network. An international competitive procurement process resulted in the selection of the Ramu Gateway Joint Venture, comprising Shawmac, Infra Tech and ATZ, to implement the study.
 Representative of the Ramu Gateway Joint Venture, Mr Brian Hartley, said: “We are pleased to have been selected to lead the Ramu Highway study to investigate and assess engineering solutions to challenges including major slip activity and river crossings and develop options for a durable and maintainable road for the long-term. As part of the contract, we will identify the various costing options for the highway’s upgrade to support future government investment decisions.”
 The Joint Understanding commitments by Australia and PNG also include the redevelopment of the Lae ANGAU Memorial Hospital, deployment of 50 Australian Federal Police advisors; scoping and design of the lower courts in Port Moresby; and support for the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure at the University of PNG.

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