[?]idges Are Priority Road

Problem in NG [?]irst Jeep Trip from Lae to Highlands

MILESTONE in New Guinea road transport was passed in November when three SDA sionaries drove by jeep from Lae, the coast, to Mt. Hagen, in the stern Highlands—a distance of ut 350 miles. ■his is the first time such a trip been attempted and apart from ly at the Umi River, a day and half out, the missionaries ex ienced very little trouble in the lays it took them to complete the nly people who know the New nea interior will realise just how this feat is from the day when re will be an all-weather high r between the coast and the hlands —but that affairs have pressed so far that the journey be attempted at all, is progress reamed of a few years ago.

' is still doubtful whether the hlands will have its first ser able road to the coast through , or through Madang. The nces are now that it will be mgh Lae —although both pro s depend to a large degree on ge building. These are areas of i rainfall and many rivers—both irds in keeping roads open, or anlding roads at all. l the Markham Valley there are main rivers which will require ging and work on the first ge at Erap will be started by Commonwealth Works Depart t shortly. On the two-way trip /een Lae and Mt. Hagen, the ;nth Day Adventist party was to ford four of the five main

rivers, but flooding in the Umi made it necessary to change vehicles at that point.

It is believed that actual road construction in the Markham Valley will present little difficulty as a route can be followed mainly over gravel flats —indeed, road construc tion will not present any real prob lems right through to Gusap, once

the bridges have been erected. There is already a good highway from Lae to Nadzab which is in constant use by the staff of the Erap Agricul tural Station and farmers who are developing properties beyond Erap.

The distance between Lae and Gusap is roughly about 100 miles.

The 100-miles road from Gusap over the range to Goroka via Kai

nantu was opened last July. Th District Services Department the finished the road over the Goroks Chimbu Divide where the higher point of the route is just over 8,00 feet. This linked with roads alreac constructed in the Wahgi Valle; and completed the road netwos from Gusap to Mt. Hagen, Oth« roads are now being built beyon Mt. Hagen.

Roads In Madang Distric

District Services is responsibi for roads in Madang District als? and is getting ahead as fast as tb peculiar difficulties of the counti will permit. Madang’s connectic with the Highlands will also B through Gusap, and the secticc they are responsible for will ope up the Gogol River where there a large area of pastoral and agr cultural land at present unproduo tive, and the Upper Ramu. Dk tance frfom Madang to Gusap is IS miles. The first 35 miles fron Madang to the Gogol River hs been completed.

Bridges are probably an eve greater problem between Madan and Gusap, than between Lae an the same point. Ten fairly lar§ bridges will be required betwee Gogol and the Ramu—and near; 40 with spans of up to 130 feet.

A road is also in hand 150 mik. from Madang north to Awar. Tin will incorporate sections of a pre war track which was later used tl the Australian and Japanese forces