Developing and implementing an asset maintenance plan, which remains important to break the wasteful build–neglect–rebuild cycle in the road transport sector of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is a pending business needing consistent follow up from development partners like ADB. Limited annual recurrent funding for operation and maintenance (O&M) was an underlying cause for developing this bridge replacement project along with capacity development for an asset management system. However, while the project supported asset management through the preparation of a bridge inventory, which is a building block for a bridge asset management system (BAMS), more effort is needed to develop a full-fledged BAMS and ensure a sustainable O&M financing system for roads and bridges. In its policy dialogue with the government, ADB can now focus on the development of a well-resourced BAMS and ensuring a sustainable O&M financing system for roads and bridges. This is crucial in ending the wasteful build–neglect–rebuild cycle that had dominated the road works in the PNG over the last three decades.
Bridge Replacement for Improved Rural Access Sector Project