$2m nationwide signage overhaul to tackle navigation woes

The Ministry of Transport and Works is set to embark on a $2 million nationwide signage and street infrastructure project in the upcoming financial year, addressing longstanding public concerns about inadequate road signs, particularly in rural areas, Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw said Monday.

During the continued debate on the Estimates in the House of Assembly, she revealed that the initiative, which began last year, engaged several community auditors across various constituencies to assess the state of signage and the specific needs for directional and place-of-interest signs throughout the country.

Bradshaw explained: “We embarked on a national signage and street infrastructure project sometime last year, where we had engaged a number of community auditors across the various constituencies to assess signage and its requirements nationwide. This covered both directional signs and signs for places of interest.”

Following the audit, the ministry compiled a tender document to attract contractors for the extensive project. Bradshaw confirmed that the tendering process has now been completed, and three contractors have been awarded contracts to undertake the much-needed signage replacements and infrastructure improvements.

“I am pleased to say that the tendering process has been completed, the awards have been made to three signage contractors, and those works will start in the next financial year. I believe we have allocated $2.7 million [for the works],” she disclosed.

Public concerns about inadequate signage have been a recurring issue, especially in rural areas. Bradshaw acknowledged that these complaints have been raised frequently during community engagement events, such as the Parish Speaks townhall meetings.

She said: “At every Parish Speaks we would constantly hear the refrain from the public that the signage was broken, particularly in the rural parishes, and if you really take a drive around the country you will see signs in all kinds of different directions, or you will see no signage whatsoever. This project in the upcoming financial year will begin to address the challenges that we have been facing across the country,”

The project will be executed in phases, with the initial focus on major highways before expanding into community roads. Additionally, the ministry’s signage department will be responsible for installing smaller ‘fingertip’ signs across various neighbourhoods to further enhance navigation and accessibility.