Canstruct will Rebuild Four Oro Bridges with value of K130 Million

POPONDETTA (ORO) - Australian Bridge Construction Company, Canstruct, will rebuild the four bridges destroyed in 2007 by Cyclone Guba in Northern Province to the project value of K130 million.

Northern Province Governor Gary Juffa commended the contract signed yesterday, which will see construction of the province’s four main bridges.

Mr. Juffa said the absence of bridges had cost lives and misery for the people of Northern Province, because of the lack of access to vital Government services and business houses.

Governor Juffa said the lack of bridges had resulted in substantial costs to the province.

He said the signing was a relief for himself and the people.

“We have finally brought this matter to close…that is the signing of the agreement between the Australian and PNG Government and the contractor for the building of four of the main bridges that were washed away by Cyclone Guba in 2007,” said Juffa.

He thanked the people of Northern Province for their patience, and said the delay was due to negligence of past leaders.

He said that upon taking office, he was determined to achieve a number of objectives within a year and he was glad to see that one of these had finally been reached.

“Past leadership did not bother to follow do follow up. Nobody followed through, the administration did not enquire…and that was the primary reason these bridges were never built,” Juffa said.

The contractors are expected to be in the Province in two weeks’ time to begin scoping work.

Mr. Juffa has advised them to recruit expertise and they have agreed.

Work on the Kumusi, Girua, Embogo and Eroro bridges is due to commence early next year. [EMTV]