Providing safe and reliable roads for the people of Papua New Guinea

Overview

The primary goal of the Second Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project is to ensure safe and reliable roads and bridges across selected areas. This will mean people in participating provinces can take their goods to market, travel to schools and reach health services safely and efficiently, thereby improving incomes and quality of life in some of the more remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Local communities and businesses will enjoy access to safe and reliable roads that are part of a better coordinated regional network, while transport providers, contractors and communities will benefit from increased participation in managing local roads.

Challenge

A large part of Papua New Guinea's road network is in poor condition, and for many people travelling by road can be impossible, unsafe, or prohibitively expensive. Without access to roads people cannot reach schools, hospitals and markets when needed, and goods and services become unavailable. Deteriorating road conditions are often a consequence of too little investment in maintenance; the dispersed nature of settlements; the rugged, mountainous nature of the terrain, and periods of heavy rainfall. In addition, there is limited participation from communities or private contractors in maintaining the country's roads and bridges.

Approach

Resources and investments are being concentrated in areas where communities will experience the greatest benefits from improved transport links, particularly along the Hiritano Highway and selected roads and bridges within ten coastal and island provinces. This will connect strategic regional centers and enhance opportunities for regional and national growth.

The project consists of two parts. The first will upgrade, restore and maintain existing roads and bridges in project areas. The second will ensure long-term, effective road maintenance by providing training, supervision and advice to the Department of Works and private contractors. In total, 150 kilometers of roads will be rehabilitated over five years.

In developing the project, the World Bank provides technical support focusing on:

• Assisting the Department of Works in coordinating activities, managing finances and procuring goods and services
• Supporting private contractors in designing and supervising maintenance of roads and bridges
• Improving long-term capacity in the Department of Works to coordinate road management and monitor road conditions and usage.

Voices

When my children or I were sick, my husband walked in the rain at night, all the way to Kerema town to get an ambulance or a car to bring us to the clinic. Now I am happy because we can just walk up the road and hop on any vehicle passing by.

— Mona, mother of 5, Ihu Village

Project Locations

Bank Contribution

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development contributed US$43 million for the Second Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project while the Government of Papua New Guinea contributed US$10 million.

Partners

The project will be implemented by Papua New Guinea Department of Works and Transport.

Toward the Future

The project implemented by the Papua New Guinea Department of Works will commence in the latter half of 2011 and will continue until 2016. Through this project the World Bank will continue working with the Government of Papua New Guinea to rehabilitate roads and transform people's lives by connecting them to facilities they need most.