WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s government plans an accelerated campaign in 2027 to repair and replace traffic signs, street-name signs, guardrails and other road infrastructure as part of a major increase in spending aimed at improving road safety.
The initiative is included in the government’s 2027 budget, which substantially increases resources for roads, streets and public squares.
The Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning (VVRP) says there is a backlog in the maintenance of road furniture that must be addressed. Traffic signs, street signs, guardrails and other safety infrastructure will therefore receive increased attention alongside regular road maintenance.
Roadside vegetation will also be pruned more systematically to prevent trees and bushes from obstructing visibility and encroaching on safety zones.
Traffic lights, public lighting and roadside drainage systems are also among the infrastructure components for which the ministry is responsible.
The government argues that increasing preventive and routine maintenance could ultimately reduce costs. Addressing deterioration earlier can prevent relatively minor problems from developing into major damage requiring significantly more expensive repairs.
VVRP also plans an intensive public-information campaign aimed at improving road safety and driver behavior. Vehicle inspections are expected to be strengthened, while a broader mobility vision will examine Curaçao’s existing traffic bottlenecks.
Nearly XCG 11 million has been allocated to the broader Traffic and Transport policy area in 2027. However, this amount covers not only road traffic but also maritime and aviation transport.
The budget does not separately identify how much will be spent specifically on the road-safety information campaign, making it impossible to determine from the budget documents how much of the nearly XCG 11 million will go directly toward that initiative.
The Traffic and Transport implementing organization itself will receive more than XCG 3 million through the ordinary budget, compared with just under XCG 3 million this year. Approximately XCG 250,000 is also included in the capital budget for investments.
The measures come alongside a broader road investment program that will bring total funding for roads, streets and public squares to more than XCG 75 million in 2027.