Upgrades for Honiara International Airport Runway Nearing Completion  

Upgrades to the Honiara International Airport runway and airfield ground lighting under the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2) are progressing well, with new surfacing and lighting expected to be completed by April 2024.

The runway improvements are one part of the World Bank supported SBD1.1 billion Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) and SIRAP2. The improvements are being implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation(MCA) and will improve the efficiency and climate resilience of Honiara International Airport.

Activities carried out by the contractor, China Railway Construction Engineering Group, include milling, paving, transformer pit installation, and temporary and permanent line marking works. The paving work has been completed for more than three quarter of the runway, with the line marking for the runway touchdown, centrelines, and edge lines also progressing well as part of the night shift works. These works are being cross-checked by the Aviation Consultancy Group for compliance.

In addition to the runway resurfacing, runway ground lighting will be upgraded with energy-efficient approach lights. Most of the preparation and layout works for the new lighting is now in-place. Supporting works on transformer pits, steel reinforcements and formwork, electrical conduit pipes, and asphalt cutting is being carried out simultaneously to ensure these works are completed on time.

Mckinnie Dentana, Supervising Permanent Secretary of MCA, has made a site visit on the night of Tuesday 6^th of February 2024 and was absolutely thrilled on the construction progress so far. He stated that “the upgrades will prolong the life of Solomon Islands main link to the world and will make air travel safer, more efficient, and more reliable for users. These improvements to Solomon Islands major gateway will also provide benefits for tourism, fisheries, agriculture, health, and business.”

Other investments under SIRAP2 include 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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