MID raises concern after heavy machinery damages newly sealed Tandai Highway, with repairs and penalties to follow
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has expressed concern 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 incident occurred on 26 June 2026 at 5:30 p.m. when an excavator was unloaded in front of the Tandai Hotel en route to a construction site within its premises.
Engineers’ assessments find out that the excavator’s tracks caused chain-mark impressions and fractures on the new asphalt. 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.
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.
“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,” Mr. Qaqara said.
This affected section is part of the recently completed road rehabilitation works for Tandai Highway to Mendana Avenue Road from a two-lane to a four-lane carriageway (4.8 km) to improve road safety, traffic flow, driving conditions, and the overall resilience of Honiara’s transport infrastructure.
The acting permanent secretary further stated, “We will enforce penalties to protect public investments and deter similar incidents in the future.
He further reminds all companies undertaking construction activities to adopt appropriate protective measures when moving tracked equipment on asphalt roads, including the use of suitable loading and unloading platforms, protective mats, and other safeguards to prevent damage to public assets.
“Protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility,” Mr. Qaqara adds.
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 modernizing our national road network.
PRESS RELEASE
