Tonga - 2.3 Road Network
There are 680 km of highways in Tonga, of which some 40% km are paved,
Tonga has an extensive network of roads. This network provides good access links to communities in terms of connectivity, but in some areas the condition has deteriorated significantly due to insufficient emphasis on maintenance.
The Government of Tonga is addressing this problem through several roads rehabilitation and upgrading programs in collaboration with its development partners. The National Roads Improvement Project will rehabilitate selected trunk roads throughout the country, and the Transport Sector Consolidation Project (TSCP) will trial a new approach to road maintenance that makes greater use of private sector involvement.
In addition to these broader programs, commitments are already in place for specific investments to rehabilitate the Vaipua Bridge (Vava’u) and Foa Causeway (Ha’apai). In the longer term, the Government of Tonga will continue this emphasis on road maintenance and rehabilitation.
There is a major bottleneck to evacuate people from Nuku’alofa’s low-lying Popua district to higher ground in the case of surge seas. GoT is considering options for a new road linking Nuku’alofa with the southern side of Fanga’uta Lagoon by bridge or causeway. This road would provide better access to the southern and eastern sides of Tongatapu and the airport, and provide an alternative evacuation/access route in case of natural disaster.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Distance Matrix (km)
|
|
Nuku’alofa |
Nukunuku |
Ha.atufu |
‘Utulau |
Fua’amotu (Int. Airport) |
Niutoua |
Malapo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nuku’alofa |
|
10 |
20 |
19 |
21 |
30 |
15 |
|
Nukunuku |
10 |
|
10 |
9 |
25 |
34 |
19 |
|
Ha.atufu |
20 |
10 |
|
17 |
34 |
43 |
28 |
|
‘Utulau |
19 |
9 |
1 |
|
20 |
29 |
14 |
|
Fua’amotu (Int. Airport) |
21 |
25 |
34 |
20 |
|
19 |
7 |
|
Niutoua |
30 |
34 |
43 |
29 |
19 |
|
15 |
|
Malapo |
15 |
19 |
28 |
14 |
7 |
15 |
|
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (minutes)
|
|
Nuku’alofa |
Nukunuku |
Ha.atufu |
‘Utulau |
Fua’amotu (Int. Airport) |
Niutoua |
Malapo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nuku’alofa |
|
15 |
30 |
20 |
35 |
45 |
22 |
|
Nukunuku |
15 |
|
17 |
17 |
42 |
51 |
30 |
|
Ha.atufu |
30 |
17 |
|
30 |
57 |
65 |
44 |
|
‘Utulau |
20 |
17 |
30 |
|
31 |
41 |
20 |
|
Fua’amotu (Int. Airport) |
35 |
42 |
57 |
31 |
|
30 |
13 |
|
Niutoua |
45 |
51 |
65 |
41 |
30 |
|
21 |
|
Malapo |
22 |
30 |
44 |
20 |
13 |
21 |
|
Road Security
There have been a few driving fatalities amounting to 14 in 2022 (https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/481256/road-toll-in-tonga-more-than-doubles-this-year ) due to speeding, alcohol and drunk driving. Driving in Tonga can be hazardous, particularly at night, due to poor visibility, the quality of roads, the significant volume of pedestrian traffic and free-roaming animals.
The speed limit in most locations is 40 km per hour.
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
Beyond registration fees, there are only a few regulations in place in Tonga. No axle load limits exist yet, but it is one of the objectives of the new Ministry of Infrastructure.
There are no weighbridges in Tonga.