New Bridges in Malaita to be Completed Soon

Work on the three new bridges in Malaita is now in its final stage. The new bridges are Koa, Bio 1 and Bio 2 Bridges along the North Road in West Kwaraáe Constituency. These works are being carried out through the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) implemented by the Solomon Islands Government with support from the World Bank to improve the safety and resilience of Malaita’s transport networks.

An international contractor, Reeves Envico, has been contracted by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) to undertake the works with supervision provided by SMEC with their team based in Auki.

Ongoing works for Koa Bridge include the abutment, formworks, and steel works. For Bio 1 Bridge, high strength concrete has been poured and is now under curing. For Bio 2 Bridge, steel reinforcement fixing for the deck is over 90 percent complete and the modular bridge deck will be ready for pouring by the second week of January 2024.

Permanent Secretary of MID Stephen Maesiola said, “the replacement of these bridges will provide easier access to markets, health and education facilities, help Malaitans grow business and trade opportunities and lead to better connected communities’’. He thanked the World Bank for funding these bridges alongside the rest of the other investments under SIRAP.

In addition to SIRAP, SIRAP2 will construct four new bridges (Kolofe1 and Kolofe2 on North Road, and Su’u Harbor and Bira Bridges on South Road) in Malaita next year and includes a range of additional road and aviation infrastructure upgrades. Supported by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, these works include upgrading roads in Noro, providing upgrades to the Honiara and Munda International Airports and Santa Cruz (Lata) Airfield, providing investments in air navigation systems in Makira-Ulawa and Temotu Provinces, and supporting regional airport maintenance.

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