Additional Financing to Better Connect People to Schools, Hospitals, Markets
WASHINGTON, February 19, 2014 – Today the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved an additional US$126.5 million credit for the Second Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program (RMRP II), which will rehabilitate hundreds of kilometers of roads in coastal provinces in Papua New Guinea.
Currently many of the country’s roads become impassable during the rainy season when, outside of the main urban centers, many people can be cut off and travel limited even to nearby services and markets, due to lack of reliable access.
“Vibrant regional economies need better and safer roads that connect people to schools, hospitals, jobs and markets for their goods,” said James Reichert, Senior Infrastructure Specialist at the World Bank. “These new funds will improve transport links for more people in more provinces, helping ensure that people can travel to and from rural as well as urban areas.”
The first road planned for upgrading with the new funds will be the 50km East Coast Road in Milne Bay between Alotau and East Cape Point, the most easterly point of Papua New Guinea’s mainland. Other priority roads will be identified during the course of the project, including provincial roads as well as major highways.
In addition to road rehabilitation, the project will also include provisions for paid employment in road maintenance in interested communities, including opportunities for women, to provide critical income and training to prepare for future employment.
Under the existing RMRP II, works have recently commenced on the Hiritano Highway, a major economic lifeline for the region, which connects Gulf and Central Provinces.
The Additional Financing is being funded through a credit of US$126.5 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) with US $30.5 million to be provided by the Government of Papua New Guinea. The project will be implemented by the Department of Works.
