A new 30-metre Bailey bridge was officially opened last Friday to connect and serve the people of Siara Korepovi and the entire West Coast of Bougainville.
The Mo’ove Bridge was inaugurated by the National Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirisim and the National Minister for Police and Regional Member for Bougainville Peter Tsiamalili Jr.
The 30-metre Bailey bridge cost a total of K3.3 million (approximately US$850,000) and was funded through the PSIP funds of the Regional Member for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), and constructed by Raibro Construction Limited.
Speaking at the event, ABG Member for Selau Constituency Paul Cheung described Mo’ove as a bridge that not only represents infrastructure, but also hope, access and progress for communities along the West Coast—a link to reach the unreachable, thanks to the Marape-Rosso Government.
“This bridge is more than just a lifeline – it connects us, not just physically but socially and economically,” Cheung said.
National Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirisim commended Raibro Construction Ltd for delivering quality infrastructure that will serve the people of Bougainville in the West Coast, and said he looked forward to more such projects being built.
“The Marape-Rosso Government has a vision for all of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to be connected by roads within 20 years through its Connect PNG Programme, and the Mo’ove Bridge is the first of many to come,” he said.
“I look after all the roads under the Connect PNG Programme. We build roads to where people are, but we also open doors for economic opportunities,” he said, adding that the PNG Government has invested K400 million (approx. US$103 million) in roads in Bougainville.
Regional Member for Bougainville and National Minister for Police Peter Tsiamalili Jr, also acknowledged the Marape-Rosso Government for delivering such vital services to the people of Bougainville. He called on the citizens of the West Coast to take ownership of the bridge and safeguard it.
“My first and foremost responsibility is to make sure that the quality of life for my people of Bougainville is my number one priority. Today, my people of Selau, Mahari, Kunua and Kereaka—it is a privilege to witness the opening of this first bridge on the West Coast. This is our bridge. Look after it,” he said.
He also thanked Minister Mirisim for his leadership in the Ministry of Works and Highways, especially his drive to bring development to underdeveloped areas of PNG. Tsiamalili further assured the Kereaka community that before the end of the year, the missing link connecting the West Coast would be addressed.
“Within this 50 years of PNG independence, all bridges on the West Coast will be completed up to Korepovi. I am not biased—I am giving back your money through the taxes you pay, and I start with the West Coast and will move on to the rest of Bougainville,” he said.
The Mo’ove Bridge project was designed and supervised by the National Department of Works and Highways through its Bougainville office, with support from the ABG Department of Technical Services.
Minister Mirisim also announced that the Siara–Korepovi Road would soon be gazetted as a national highway, with paperwork currently underway for the construction and sealing of an additional 2.5 kilometres of road from Tonn to Chabai.
The celebration was witnessed by delegates from the National Department of Works and Highways, ABG Department of Technical Services, Selau Community Government Members, Chiefs, Bougainville Police Service, Raibro Construction Ltd and sub-contractors, and the people of Selau, Mahari, Kunua and Kereaka.
