The Kassam Pass is a road pass on the Highlands Highway in Papua New Guinea. The pass connects the Markham Valley to the fertile Highlands region and is administratively located in the Eastern Highlands Province. It begins at the end of the Markham Valley and rises from a low altitude to around 1,500 m (4,921 ft) over approximately 10 km and finishes at the Yonki Dam.

Top of the Kassam Pass viewed from Memorial
Memorial to Rupert Roelof Haviland approx. halfway up the pass

The pass was originally constructed in the early 1950s by the Australian administration through the Department of District Services and Native Affairs under the guidance of engineer Rupert Roelof Haviland and Administrator Don Cleland.[1] It was repaired and upgraded from 2017/18.[2][3]

References edit

  1. ^ Cleland, Donald (1965). Kassam Pass: Official Opening on the 19th November, 1965. Department of Information and Extension Services, Territory of Papua & New Guinea. pp. 1–16. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ^ Author, Loop (10 September 2018). "Kassam Pass improved". Loop PNG. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Kassam Pass upgrade nearly done". www.pngreport.com. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.