The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) announces that maintenance works are currently taking place along the Mendana Avenue road in Central Honiara.

The upgrade is happening between ITA Hardware to the Solomon Ports intersection. 

Over the past days road users have experienced during night hours, that this critical work is intended to ensure the road remains usable while preparations are made for its full rehabilitation under the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP), which is currently progressing on the Tandai Highway.

The ministry wishes to clarify that this maintenance serves as a temporary measure, designed to ensure traffic flow in this vital segment of the city (CBD) until comprehensive road improvement works begin.

Local contractors have been engaged to carry out these maintenance efforts (chip sealing method), particularly in the evenings, to minimise disruption during peak traffic hours. Mendana Avenue is recognised as a high-traffic corridor in Honiara, marked by consistent heavy use and recurrent maintenance needs.

MID recognises the urgency of this maintenance, especially being the main business centre in the bustling Point Cruz area.

Once the Tandai Highway section is completed with asphalt laying commencing this month (Town Ground Roundabout to White River 31 km), the contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Cooperation (CCECC) will move to another section along Mendana Avenue (Heritage Park Hotel Roundabout intersection to Solomon Ports intersection) and continue towards the Central Market.

The LMCP is funded collaboratively by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Solomon Islands Government. This project has a maritime component and a roads component. For the road components, it includes the Tandai Highway from White River to Town Ground – upgrading the existing two-lane carriageway to a four-lane carriageway. Rehabilitation and improvement of the current four-lane carriageway on Mendana Avenue from Town Ground to City Council Roundabout, about 1.7 km, which was way past its design life, and the upgrading of the existing two-lane carriageway from Henderson to Mberande, 31.7 km.

MID appreciates the cooperation and understanding of road users during this maintenance phase and looks forward to the transformative upgrades that will soon be delivered through the LMCP.

– MID