Upgrade  of Malaita’s North Road Ongoing

Maintenance and upgrades of 17 kilometres of Malaita’s North Road is progressing well with basic formation works on the road verges completed from Gwaunaruu Junction to the intersection with the Malaita East Road at Dala near Forcim Market. The upgrades are supported by the World Bank through the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) and are being implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.

A local contractor, Exodus Trade Development Limited, has been contracted by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to undertake the works with supervision provided by a team from SMEC based in Auki.

The activities scheduled for this week and next month include drainage and re-gravelling works from the Forcim Market intersection towards Gwaunaruu. The drainage works have already commenced and are progressing southward to Dala South. The drainage works include the installation of culverts and the construction of concrete lined drainage systems. In addition, five new culverts will be installed, five existing culverts will be replaced, and 1 kilometre of longitudinal drains will be constructed.

Initial tests on the existing pavement were completed last week, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Lab team carried out the independent testing to ensure the longevity of the North Road.

Since they began in late July 2023, the works have been delayed due to heavy rain. However, the works are now progressing well, with maintenance and upgrades scheduled to be completed by March 2024.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Stephen Maesiola said, “the government is committed to improving roads in Malaita and around the country and encourage people living along the roads to corporate with contractors as the works continue. These upgrades will ease burdens for local communities while improving access to markets and social services in Auki. This will create benefits for Malaitans that the Ministry is proud to be supporting”, he added.

The World Bank is also supporting the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2), which is constructing four new bridges in Malaita (Kolofe1, Kolofe2, Su’u Harbor, and Bira Bridges); upgrading roads in Noro; providing upgrades to Honiara, Munda, and Santa Cruz Airports; upgrading air navigation systems in Makira-Ulawa and Temotu Provinces; and supporting airport maintenance.

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