The Sanma Public Works Department (PWD) has confirmed that 95% of sealing work on Luganville’s back roads has been completed, with only around 600 meters of road left to be sealed.

The project is part of the department’s long-term development plan, which aims to seal all urban roads in Luganville by 2030.

Once the current back roads are completed, Sanma PWD says work will move to Mango Station and the Chapius area. At the same time, the department is carrying out maintenance on several deteriorated roads, using recycled materials from the Luganville Urban Road Project previously constructed by CCECC. Roads such as Side River and Radio Station have already been upgraded.

Taxi driver Kami John from Luganville said the improvements have already made a big difference.

“At first, we used to drive and complain a lot because the roads were bad, but now no one is complaining , the roads are fixed,” he said.

However, the department has raised concerns about some irresponsible public behavior that threatens the quality and safety of the roads.

Temporary road signs placed at junctions have reportedly been removed or damaged by unknown individuals. Sanma PWD warned that such acts create safety hazards and urged the public to stop vandalizing road signage.

The department also received reports of people lighting fires near the newly sealed roads, particularly around the Panpan area. Officials stressed that fires close to asphalt can damage and weaken the road surface, reducing its lifespan.

Sanma PWD reminded the public that these actions go against the Road Act and called for community cooperation to ensure the sustainability of new infrastructure.