Solomon Islands: Japanese and ADB funding support behind infrastructure projects aiding development and construction of roads.
It was reported in Honiara last week that the engineering and development consultancy, SMEC, had been appointed to design and overlook infrastructure projects in the Solomon Islands. The firm was appointed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development in the country, to help with the construction of certain roads and wharves.
The range of projects will fall under the Solomon Islands Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program (STIIP); an Asian Development bank (ADB) supported initiative. The aim is to make infrastructure on the islands “safer and more climate-resilient,” according to the ADB website.
The project is also aimed at connecting some of the more remote rural areas to the main economic centres. SMEC will support this process by helping to construct some of the roads and wharves, after winning a competitive bid.
SMEC specialises in advanced engineering and design consultancy for a variety of sectors, including transport, energy, water and the built environment, among a range of others.
A second news report, detailed in the Solomon Star newspaper last Friday, said the second phase of the upgrading of Kukum Highway is scheduled to commence soon with more funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) said a survey team from the CTI Engineering International Cooperation Limited are currently in Honiara to undertake relevant site condition surveys and discussion with concerned parties.
JICA engaged CTI Engineering International Cooperation Limited to conduct a number of site condition surveys commencing on the 15th of October 2019 to 14th December 2019,” the MID said.
“The outcome of the surveys will assist in the planning, designing, and implementation of Phase 2 of the project,” it added.
The primary target of the project is to improve Kukum Highway to enhance traffic safety and disaster resiliency of the highway by mitigating traffic congestion and enhancing drainage capacity.
The MID said the scope of Phase 2 will include the rehabilitation of the road from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to Lungga Bridge (4 lanes, 5km) and from Lungga Bridge to Honiara International Airport (2 lanes, 2km including Lungga Bridge).
It will also include the rehabilitation of drainage facilities and rehabilitation of bus bays.
Sources: Solomon Times on Line and Solomon Star newspaper.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
