Article Retrieved from South Pacific Post, dated 23 November 2023, page 02
AFTER a month and a half, the bypass road leading from the Kouraway Road roundabout to Ranuguri has opened up a lane to allow for vehicles to drive through. The road which had cracked around September and is used by heavily loaded vehicles dropped causing a bump that slowed vehicles.
On August 01, Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen contacted the City Manager Ravu Frank regarding concerns with the bypass road. According to a statement by OC, the intervention was triggered by a recent natural disaster.
On July 7, 2023, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the eastern part of Papua New Guinea. The tremor caused structural damage to the road; primarily due to the inadequate compaction of its bottom layers, resulting in a noticeable depression on its surface.
This intervention by the OC was not in response to a specific complaint but rather an own initiative to address an infrastructure issue in the city caused by the natural disaster. Upon receiving the Chief’s communication, the City Manager promptly dispatched an engineering team to assess the situation and conduct a soil test to ensure the safety of commuters; gravel was laid as a temporary solution.
While NCDC organised to engage a contractor -for the complete repair of the road. A road construction company was awarded the contract for 1 month to repair the road. Within two weeks, they successfully completed one lane, and they are currently focused on completing the second lane.
The dimensions of the road repair cover a length of 60 meters, a width of six meters, and a depth of three meters, ensuring the restoration of a safe and strong roadway.
The Commission acknowledges and commends the City Manager Frank Ravu and his team for their swift response and proactive efforts in addressing this critical road infrastructure issue. The timely intervention has ensured the safety and convenience of the commuters in the affected area. The prompt response and successful road repair reflect the OC’s commitment to public safety and efficient governance.
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