-MID calls out careless behaviour by contractor damaging asphalt at Tandai, West Honiara
-SICCI reinforces call, reminding private sector and public on importance of new road as national asset
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Honiara’s new road has not been officially handed over but it has already received damage at a segment along Tandai, West Honiara.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) and peak body of the private sector, SICCI, have both spoken out against this careless behaviour, which was a contributing factor to the degradation of Honiara’s old roads.
MID expressed concern yesterday in a statement over the careless use of heavy machinery by a private construction group, resulting in damage to a newly sealed section of the Tandai Highway.
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) reinforced this by calling on ‘all businesses, contractors and operators to exercise greater responsibility and duty of care when using public infrastructure’.
The incident occurred on June 26 at 5:30pm MID said when an excavator was unloaded in front of the Tandai Hotel en route to a construction site within its premises.
Engineers’ assessments found out that the excavator’s tracks caused chain-mark impressions and fractures on the new asphalt, MID said.
“The damage included surface scratches and asphalt twisting, exposing underlying layers at depths of 3 to 7 millimeters.
“These fractures will weaken the pavement, increase water infiltration, and lead to future defects like cracking, deformation, and potholes,” the MID statement said.
MID could not disclose the identity of the contractor at this time, with discussions underway between the MID and the responsible party over repair costs, MID spokesperson told Island Sun last night.
MID Acting Permanent Secretary Mike Qaqara said the ministry will carry out further assessment for the repair cost and deal with the developer and contractor who are held responsible for the damage, the MID statement said.
“This is pure negligence and poor operational practices by this group.
“Contractors, developers, and heavy machinery operators have a responsibility to ensure their machinery is transported and operated in a manner that protects public assets.
“We will enforce penalties to protect public investments and deter similar incidents in the future.
“Protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility,” Mr Qaqara said.
This project is a big investment by the Solomon Islands government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project (LMCP) with the ultimate goal of improving and modernising our national road network, the MID statement said.
Meanwhile, SICCI reminded members of the private sector and public that the newly improved Honiara main highway roads are important national assets.
“They support the movement of goods, workers, customers and services, and contribute to Honiara’s role as the country’s main commercial, logistics, import and export hub.
“SICCI therefore calls on private sector businesses, particularly those operating in the construction, logging, transport and heavy machinery sectors, to comply with Solomon Islands Government requirements and ensure that machinery, equipment and heavy goods are transported and operated in a safe and responsible manner.
“This includes the use of proper loading platforms, protective mats, safeguards and other appropriate measures when moving tracked machinery or heavy equipment on public roads.
“SICCI also encourages contractors, developers and operators to strengthen internal procedures, supervision and compliance systems to ensure that public roads and other infrastructure are not damaged through negligence or poor operational practices,” a SICCI statement yesterday said.
For many years before the improvement projects of Honiara’s highway roads began, SICCI was one of the voices repeatedly calling and advocating for improved roads, bridges and transport connectivity.
This is “because quality infrastructure directly supports private sector growth, reduces the cost of doing business, improves access to markets and strengthens Solomon Islands’ import and export systems”, the SICCI statement said.
Photo credit: MID
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