Road rumble strips and smart new red and white signs with village names, are being constructed for eight villages along the Hala Liku from ‘Utulau to Kala'au this month.

The village signs are set inside raised flower beds where the villagers can plant ornamental gardens at both ends of the residential areas.

Tevita Lavemaau, director of the Land Transport division of the Ministry of Infrastructure, said the work done under the Tonga Transport Sector Consolidation Project (TSCP) is similar to the work done last year on the airport route at Veitongo, Vaini and Malapo.

The current work under the road safety project also included upgrading of the traffic speed signs. The contractor is the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Signs

Meanwhile, many different signposts are going up around Tongatapu. There are new roadside boards for tsunami information, anti-littering signs, scenic landmarks signs, and at Abel Tasman's landing place even the brass plaque has received a coat of paint.

Tsunami boards

Maliu Takai, the support officer for the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) said Tsunami information boards showing evacuation routes had been set up in the villages along Tongatapu's northern coastline from Hihifo to Nuku'alofa and to Niutoua, last month. The Tsunami preparedness project was funded by the New Zealand Government.

He said that Houma on the southern coast had put up its own Tsunami information board.

Scenic signs

As part of Tonga's tourism development, new signposts have been set up for popular landmarks and scenic spots.

Added to that are the anti-littering signs in every village, urging people to stop dumping their rubbish along the country roadsides.

Manatu Vivili, tourism officer, for the Tourism and Trade division of the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour, said they were embarking on a clean-up campaign this year that will also reach out to the schools, aiming to change attitudes toward littering.