(Source: Dept of Works)
There are more than 25,000km of roads in the country and 8,700km of this are classified as National Roads.
The National Transport Development Plan 2001‐2010 identifies some of the priority expenditures that PNG needs to establish an integrated transport network linking most of the regions of PNG.
In addition, new priorities have been identified, including the “missing link” roads that are needed to connect all of PNG’s national roads and the corridor roads that are needed to open up key regions of PNG for development.
The successor to the NTDP 2001‐2010 is currently under development and will incorporate all of these priorities, building on the original plan. The new plan will aim for an effective transport system where the modes of transport work in unison and the system connects all people in all parts of the country by 2030.
The NTDP 2006‐2010 identified 16 priority roads totaling 4,200km (refer table above). The condition of all the National Roads, as at end 2010, is shown here in the below.
This is updated annually and at the end of this year, new statistics should be available by 1st quarter of 2012. Funding for Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation is directed towards addressing the NTDP, that is, the priority roads. However, maintenance activities are not necessarily confined to only the priority road.
16 missing link roads have also been identified together with 4 economic corridor roads and it is envisaged that by the end of 2050, the total length of national roads would increased to 30,000km.
Funding is coming through and the Government has realised the importance of transport infrastructure as an enabling factor to national development. However, as it is now, the condition of the other roads not under DoW’s jurisdiction cannot be ascertained.
Recently, the Electoral Commission has said that the roads in Papua New Guinea are in such poor conditions that many people may not be able to take part in the 2012 elections. However DOW engineers believe they are referring to Provincial Roads, which fall under the authority of other state organizations.
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