40 years of neglect ends: Sirinumu ring road gets K500,000 facelift

A long-neglected ring road in Central Province is finally receiving a major facelift, with long-overdue rehabilitation works now underway.

Central provincial government has intervened after decades of neglect, with a funding of K500,000 to upgrade the Sirinumu ring road in Hiri Koiari district.

For almost 40 years, the road was left to deteriorate, cutting off surrounding Koiari communities from markets, basic services and opportunities for social and economic wellbeing.

The road was once maintained by the state-owned electricity provider, the PNG Electricity Commission [ELCOM], but following the transfer of responsibilities to PNG Power, maintenance lapsed and the road fell into severe disrepair.

Depo Ward Member, Billy Ivai, who inspected the site, expressed frustration over successive provincial governments for failing to maintain the road since the Sirinumu Dam was established in the 1960s.

He said road access in the Koiari area will be raised and pushed as a priority at the next LLG meeting.

Local fish farmer Jonah Oga broke down in tears after witnessing a vehicle travel on the road for the first time in decades.

“This is almost 40 years I’ve seen a vehicle on this road. My heart cried in pain when I … saw a vehicle travel on this road,” he said.

Oga said the ring road once served local communities, but its poor condition deprived people of basic access.

Local contractor and team leader Adel Muna said the scale of work is large compared to available funding, but his team is progressing with available resources.

So far, about four kilometers have been rehabilitated, with another ten kilometers still to be opened.

The ring road begins at the Sirinumu Dam turnoff, runs through Nonoa Rubber Plantation, links Ogotana Village, cuts through the defunct Eilogo Rubber Plantation and reconnects near the Sirinumu Village turnoff, close to the popular Crystal Rapids picnic site.