Motorists are spending a longer time in traffic and the need for new roads to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles is becoming urgent, said the Leader of Opposition, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Tuilaepa urged the Government to plan new roads to help lessen traffic congestion. 

Tuilaepa made the call in Parliament last week during the supplementary budget debate resumes on Tuesday. 

The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leader said planning roads is what engineers are for and should not wait until the Government directs them to do so. 

He said many people address the issues directly with their members of parliament instead of going to the responsible government ministry. 

The Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai interjected to respond to current plans and its progress. 

Olo said families affected by the proposed new roads have intervened and are being consulted at this stage. 

He explained the new roads are in the transport sector plan and the feasibility study in the Vaitoloa area is likely to be completed by next month. 

The proposed Vaitoloa road will come out in Sogi allowing some motorists to take that bypass. Plans for the bypass road were made public almost a year ago.

The Minister said there are some changes due to land issues and engineers are looking into another plan for Vailoa Faleata. 

A taxi driver, Faasoo Tauloa had recently told the Samoa Observer that he believes there are not enough roads in Samoa to address the increase in the number of vehicles. 

Tauloa said there is heavy traffic every morning and evening on particular roads and the number of vehicles is a factor. 

He recalled there were fewer cars and taxis some 20 years ago compared to today. He said there is a substantive increase in the number of commercial vehicles.   

Traffic congestion has been a problem in Samoa with long vehicle queues around selected traffic lights in Apia becoming the norm, especially during the early morning and afternoon peak hours from Monday to Friday.