Traffic chaos erupted on rural roads in Tongatapu on Friday after Police completely closed a section of the main Taufaʻāhau Road for two hours during King Tupou VI’s official opening of the new National Emergency Management Office headquarters at Matatoa.
Videos and reports seen by Kaniva News showed long queues of vehicles crawling — and at times apparently coming to a standstill — on narrow roads through bush and plantation areas around Fualu as motorists sought alternative routes.
Some footage also appeared to show potentially dangerous vehicle manoeuvres as drivers attempted to negotiate the congested country roads.
The disruption followed Tonga Police’s decision to close Taufaʻāhau Road from 10.30am until 12.30pm, covering the section from its intersection with Peamotuʻa Road near the ʻAlonga Disability Centre to the Matakiʻeua road intersection in front of EM Jones Gas Station.
The closure was associated with the official opening of the nearby NEMO headquarters by King Tupou VI.
The traffic problems quickly fuelled public debate over whether completely shutting one of Tongatapu’s major roads was necessary for the ceremony.
Some questioned whether the opening ceremony itself was being held on the road and why traffic could not have continued through the area under Police control.
Others accused Police of making an inconsiderate decision that unnecessarily disrupted motorists and forced traffic onto less suitable rural roads.
However, supporters defended the closure, arguing that it lasted only two hours and that Police had made the appropriate decision to ensure the royal ceremony proceeded safely and without disruption.
Former Minister raised warning
The disruption came a day after former Infrastructure Minister Sēmisi Sika publicly questioned the decision to completely close the road.
Sika had warned that Taufaʻāhau Road was a vital transport route linking central Nukuʻalofa with eastern and southern Tongatapu, including Fuaʻamotu International Airport, and that alternative access was limited.
“This is a vital route connecting central Nukuʻalofa with the eastern and southern areas, including the airport, with limited alternative access. Friday is the busiest day of the week,” Sika said.
He called on the Government and Police to reconsider the full closure and suggested that at least one lane could remain open under Police supervision.
Sika pointed to an earlier royal event at the same location, saying the King’s opening of the Utility Office had been successfully conducted without completely closing the road.
“Perhaps the same arrangement could be considered for the opening and keeping at least one lane open under Police control,” he said.
“This would respect the importance of the occasion while minimising disruption to our economic development and to the wider public.”
Police had advised motorists in advance to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible.
The Road Safety Unit was stationed at the closure points to manage traffic and assist motorists, while Police apologised for the inconvenience and asked the public to cooperate with officers.
The congestion seen on some of the alternative rural routes on Friday, however, has renewed questions over whether those roads were capable of safely handling the volume of traffic diverted from Taufaʻāhau Road.
The new NEMO headquarters was constructed at Matatoa under Tonga’s Pacific Resilience Programme as part of efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s disaster preparedness and emergency-response capability.
Friday’s commissioning had itself been delayed after earlier issues surrounding land arrangements involving Tonga Power Limited, MEIDECC and the Royal Estate.
