The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), through its Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) under the Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division, has confirmed that road maintenance work will soon begin along the key East Honiara road loop.
The contract will cover the entire loop from SDA Kukum, extending through Borderline, Zion, Kola, Talise, and down to St. Barnabas Cathedral.
In a statement, CPIU said they hear the concerns of residents and [are] fully aware of the deteriorating conditions along these sealed sections of East Honiara and are doing their best to address it with the limited funds allocated.
“A contractor will be engaged to carry out specific maintenance on these sealed roads, funded through the National Transport Fund (NTF) contributed by the Solomon Islands Government,” it added.
The statement further explained that this upcoming maintenance will be expedited as a variation to the existing contractor for these roads, since the quantities specified in the original contract have been exhausted.
“Moving forward, our primary focus is the Honiara road network, and we appreciate the patience of community members,” CPIU added.
CPIU also clarified that the road works along Vura and Naha carried out earlier last month were intended as relief measures.
“This relief work was undertaken in preparation for the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, which was successfully hosted in Honiara last month,” the statement said.
Some delegates attending this event were accommodated at housing facilities in Vura and Naha, necessitating the relief works to ensure smooth travel and access for both delegates and community members.
“This relief work involved ripping up the defective sections of the roads and replacing them with base course materials,” CPIU explained.
“This is not a reflection of substandard work but a necessary measure to facilitate safe and efficient movement,” it added in response to public inquiries from East Honiara residents on social media.
Addressing another public concern, CPIU said dust control along Honiara’s road networks is ongoing.
“We have previously engaged water spray trucks for the main highway and selected feeder roads on a sporadic basis. We will increase the frequency of these dust suppression operations, depending on available funds and contractors with spraying vehicles,” CPIU stated.
It also highlighted that while there are other dust control methods available, their use is restricted by the country’s environmental regulations.
Meanwhile, the Vura Drainage System is set for full rehabilitation under the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE II) Project, which aims to strengthen drainage and improve the overall road network across East Honiara.
