Robert@PNG

THE Highlands Highway has been cut off at Daulo Pass again.

THE Highlands Highway has been cut off at Daulo
Pass again.
Continuous rain in the region triggered another massive landslip at Daulo Pass
on Monday night, cutting off the four highlands provinces and resources
development projects in Enga and Southern Highlands provinces.
The landslip occurred at the same location where part of a mountain collapsed,
cutting off the highway last week.
Eastern Highlands provincial works manager Steven Sapalo yesterday said the
latest landslip was three times bigger than last week’s slip which saw the flow
of traffic come to a standstill for a week.
Mr Sapalo said it would take 10 to 20 days for two teams from either side of the
landslip to clear the mess.
He said an access land would be created for traffic by the weekend.
“We have organised for two teams to work on the landslip. One team will work on
the Chimbu side and the other from Goroka. The Goroka team is already there and
we got word that the Chimbu team is coming down and they should arrive by this
afternoon and work should begin,” Mr Sapalo said.
COVEC Construction company was able to clear part of last week’s landslip and
allowed traffic through for a day befiore Monday’s disaster hit.
It blocked a mountain creek and created a dam which is threatening to burst,
posing further risks to people down the valley and further damages to the
highway, sources in Goroka said.
It is a nightmare for trucking firms who only this week raised concerns on the
high operating costs with frequent landslips along the highway and increased
fuel prices.
The Highlands Highway is the only road link between the five highlands provinces
and the coastal towns of Lae and Madang.
Landslides and slips along the highway have also affected businesses including
the oil and gas fields in Southern Highlands and Porgera gold mine, the
travelling public and PMV operators.
Mr Sapalo yesterday commended the local landowners for understanding that
clearing the highway was important.
PMVs loaded with passengers destined for Lae and Goroka from Mt Hagen offloaded
their passengers on the Chimbu side of the slip and passengers walked across to
get on buses on the Goroka side to continue their journey.