THE GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is committed to ensure most of the feeder and connecting roads plus the drainage system within the Honiara city and the outskirts of the city are improved.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) on Wednesday told the paper this road improvement project is currently underway in parts of the city from east to west Honiara.
The officer said, MID has tasked a number of contractors to work on the project in certain parts of the city and communities.
In East Honiara, work has been conducted at the Gilbert camp. In Central Honiara has been conducted at the Mbokona and Tinge road. While in West Honiara work is making progress at Ngossi, Tandai and the White River area.
Over the past days, engineers from MID have been visiting the project sites to inspect the work done by the contractors.
The engineer said, the project is being funded under the National Transport Fund (NTF) and the Solomon Islands Government.
This is to maintain all the roads within the city.
The officer said, some of the contractors will be engaged for three or so years to maintain the feeder and connecting roads to ensure the roads are graveled, potholes fixed, maintained with the drains being cleaned up at all times.
He added that some of the drainage system and culverts within some of the communities will be upgraded to cater for rising waters during flooding times.
The officer made reference to complaints raised by Dudley Seda of Wind Valley community in White River recently about the work done in the area.
“Work on the drainage system in Wind Valley will continue and the culvert there will be improved. What is being done now to the culvert at Wind Valley is just only a temporary measure,” he said.
In White River work is progressing at Independence Valley, Namoruka and Wind Valley.
At Wind Valley, work is progressing in two parts. Firstly to raise the road and secondly building of retain walls along the stream running through the community.
So far residents in the three areas, motorists, taxi drivers and vehicle owners have acknowledged the work done by the contractor and the Solomon Islands government for their commitment to improve infrastructures to the communities within the city.
The MID official said, improvement of roads and drainage system is part of the current government’s policy to ensure there is proper infrastructure in place in communities within the city.
Apart from the feeder roads, fixing of roads along the main highway of the city is also making progress on a daily basis.
The officer said, under this project, contractors are being engaged to fix the potholes and clean the side of the roads.
A visiting local from the Western Province Mahe Tolipio has expressed the changes being made to the roads in the city and how quick is it for the contractors to fix the roads.
He said, the only problem affecting road works is with the ongoing bad weather.
The MID officer also acknowledged that the current bad weather has hampered work.
“Once we have more sunshine, work should progress without much disruption.”
By MOFFAT MAMU
