Ministry of Infrastructure begins night-time road maintenance on Mendana Avenue ahead of major upgrades under LMCP project.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has begun urgent maintenance work along Mendana Avenue, focusing on the section from ITA Hardware to the Solomon Ports intersection. The temporary works, which are taking place during night hours, aim to keep the road usable as preparations continue for a full-scale rehabilitation under the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP).
In a public statement, the ministry explained that the maintenance is a short-term measure to ensure continued traffic flow along this vital stretch of road in Honiara’s Central Business District. Recognised as one of the city’s busiest corridors, Mendana Avenue experiences constant heavy traffic and frequent wear and tear, making ongoing maintenance a necessity.
To minimise disruption during peak hours, local contractors have been engaged to carry out the repairs in the evenings using a chip sealing method. MID acknowledged the significance of this work, especially given that the area serves as the main business centre of the Point Cruz area.
The ministry further outlined that once the asphalt laying currently underway on the Tandai Highway—from Town Ground Roundabout to White River—is completed this month, the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will shift operations to Mendana Avenue. The next phase of work will begin at the Heritage Park Hotel Roundabout and extend to the Solomon Ports intersection, continuing further toward the Central Market.
The Land and Maritime Connectivity Project is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Solomon Islands Government. It includes both maritime and road components. For the roads, the project covers the upgrading of the Tandai Highway from White River to Town Ground into a four-lane carriageway, the rehabilitation of Mendana Avenue from Town Ground to the City Council Roundabout—an area that has exceeded its design life—and the upgrading of the two-lane road from Henderson to Mberande, a stretch of approximately 31.7 kilometres.
MID thanked the public for their continued patience and cooperation during this maintenance phase and expressed confidence that the upcoming upgrades will significantly improve transport infrastructure in the capital.
Source: MID