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Highways Minister gives one week for officials to remedy safety lapses

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Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday gave a one-week deadline to his top officials to attend to safety lapses in road worksites, countrywide.

 Speaking to his top ministry officials, via zoom, following the conclusion of his three-day tour, covering all provinces to road and bridge construction sites to ascertain their progress, the Minister said that he was very disturbed and worried to see that standards of public safety had not been maintained to the letter.

 “There were sites which are not properly displaying the men-at-work signs yards ahead. Some have put up temporary speed bumps while few have not. Some work sites had road construction traffic light for controlling vehicles but they are not properly handled. The constructors are required to take every precaution and prevent any inconvenience for the road users. The roadwork signs and precautions should be adhered to their standards to prevent unfortunate accidents. They could save lives. We need development and the work carried out on time but we should keep in mind that safety comes first,” the Minister said.

 “These regulatory sign systems, such as a men-at-work sign, are warning signs. They indicate that road workers are in or near the roadway. Drivers could be made alert and prepared to slow down or stop if they encounter this sign. It is very natural that people become victims of accidents because there are no warning signs in proper order,” the Minister said.

 Minister Fernando instructed the Secretary to the Ministry R.W.R. Pemasiri, Chairman Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage, Director General of RDA Sardha Weerakoon and provincial directors to review their roadwork sign systems in work sites countrywide and address the shortages immediately. The Minister said that he did not want to see again the sorry state of affairs he had happened to witness during his last inspection tour.

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