The travelling public of east Malaita have renewed for authorities to quickly fix their deteriorating road.
This followed damages cause by a landslide to a portion of the road leading to Atori, subsequently disconnecting the eastern region from provincial capital, Auki.
“It is our plea to the government and the responsible authorities to step in and fix our road infrastructure,” a caller told the Sunday Star.
He said the people there depend on their road for travel and taking their goods to the market.
Other parts of the road also need urgent attention.
The caller said the bad state of the road has severely disrupted service to the eastern road.
Previously, funds to maintain the road were secured under the National Transport Fund (NTF) withing the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
NTF, which has since been rebranded, was designed to enable money from donors and other development partners to improve roads, bridges, ports and other transport systems in the country
The caller said that with the delay in fixing their road, both passengers and trucks are struggling along the east road to find their way to Auki and Atori – where the east road ends.
The east road was built in the 1970s and has provided an important link for communities in East Kwara’ae, East Kwaio, East Fataleka, Kwai/Ngongosila and other East Malaita communities.
“But there is an urgent need for this road to be fixed now,” he said.
Meanwhile, some of the bridges along the road have not been fixed for over five years now.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO