Tamlan School retention wall. Help us safeguard our infrastructure—stop the graffiti and report vandalism to the authority’s.
Call for Respect: Protecting Honiara’s New Road Infrastructure from Vandalism
Newly completed concrete plinth walls along the Tandai Highway corridor defaced by graffiti tags. MID appeals to the public to respect and protect these new national assets.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) in a statement today is once again calling on the Honiara general public to respect and take ownership of the newly constructed road infrastructure delivered under the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP).
The ministry has recently observed several incidents of graffiti and vandalism on newly installed road signs and retention walls. Such acts damage valuable public assets and undermine the significant investments being made to improve road safety and transport connectivity for all residents and visitors to Honiara.
Road signs, safety barriers, drainage structures, footpaths, and other supporting infrastructure are installed to enhance public safety, improve traffic management, and ensure a more efficient road network. Deliberate damage to these facilities reduces their effectiveness and can pose risks to drivers, pedestrians, and other road users.
The statement reminds Honiara community members that these upgraded infrastructures are funded through taxpayers’ hard-earned money and development partner support for the benefit of all residents. Every damaged signboard or vandalized facility results in additional repair and replacement costs that could otherwise be directed towards new infrastructure projects and essential public services.
“We appeal to all road users, communities, youth groups, schools, and the general public to take ownership of these assets and help safeguard them.
“We also encourage members of the public to report any acts of vandalism or damage to road infrastructure to the relevant authorities,” the MID statement said.
It adds, “By working together, we can ensure that these investments continue to serve our communities, improve road safety, and support economic growth and development throughout the city and Guadalcanal Province.”
LMCP is a collaborative undertaking by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Solomon Islands government contracted to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). For the road component, it includes upgrading the Tandai Highway to Mendana Avenue Road from a two-lane to a four-lane carriageway (4.8 km) and the existing two-lane road from Henderson to Mberande over 31.7 km (East Guadalcanal Highway).
-end-