The Papua New Guinea Transport and Civil Aviation minister says the upgrading and maintenance of roads in PNG will cost an estimated 160-million US dollars.
Don Poyle says the current road conditions show alarming signs of neglect and abuse and have reached such a deplorable state that it is underming the economy as well as becoming a death trap for users.
Mr Poyle says the rehabilitation of the Highlands Highway would be first, costing about 49-million dollars.
He says the Highlands project will start early next year when the Government gives over 1-million dollars in counterpart funding.
Mr Poyle says the transport system provides a solid basis for the economic and social development of a nation.
