The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated loan and grant funds worth $90m for the Bridge Replacement for Improved Rural Access Sector Project in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The project will replace 20 to 30 narrow, modular steel bridges on five priority national roads with permanent two-lane bridges.

As the first phase of the proposed bridge replacement programme, the project covers five of the 16 priority national roads identified by the government in its National Transport Development Plan.

The priority roads are in the provinces of Central, Madang, East Sepik, and West and East New Britain.

The government will finance $10m towards the total project cost of $100m, which will be implemented over five years with the Department of Works as the implementing agency.