Two zebra crossings identified for traffic-lights trial this year

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Traffic lights will be trialed later this year in Honiara on two key locations as the ministry of infrastructure development moves to address uncontrolled crossings which create queues in certain parts of the city.

The now temporarily closed AJ Mall crossing and the Honiara City (next to Holy Cross Cathedral crossing) have been earmarked for traffic lights this year.

Director of Civil Engineering the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Mike Qaqara confirmed to SBMOnline tonight that the two crossings will be trialed in 2025.

Severe complaints have been raised about uncontrolled crossings especially at AJ Mall which caused traffic jam out of Honiara and into the city from the airport.

On Sunday, MID closed the crossing—ultimately stopping pedestrians from using that stretch of the road.

Qarara emphasized that it is only a temporary measure to allow them observe the flow of traffic in the area.

He said based on early findings; traffic is flowing acknowledging that the increasing number of vehicles during the rush hours has slowed down traffic but the difference is it keeps moving even though at a slow pace.

Meanwhile Qaqara said in implementing the traffic lights this year they would be observing for two things, one is how people will be using the crossings and if that will be accepted by the community.

Qaqara stressed in the long term their plan is to build more traffic lights on the crossings across the city.

The only traffic light to be built in Honiara was in the 1990s opposite of the current Central Market.