Road work in Makira starts

Wednesday, 05 May 2010 13:12


ROAD rehabilitation is currently under-way in Makira Province from the US$24 million (SBD$185) signed under phase two of the Solomon Islands Road Improvement Project last year.

Director of Engineering in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Ambrose Kirei said work had already started in Makira.

He said road rehabilitation started from Manuri road in West Makira and will end in Ravo in central.

Mr Kirei said 25 bridges will also be built and work is expected to complete by the end of next year.

“An International Contractor is engaged to build bridges in Makira and road will be built by community-based contractors using labour base equipments,” he said.

Mr Kirei said the total cost for the road rehabilitation in Makira is around US15 million.

He said too that Guadalcanal tender will go out this month and road construction will begin around August and September.

“11 bridges will be built and road rehabilitation will start between Poha and Naro in North West Guadalcanal where disaster always strikes,” Mr Kirei said.

He said it is estimated that $17 to $18 million dollars will be used for Guadalcanal road rehabilitation and once everything goes according to their plan the road construction might extend to Lambi.

Mr Kirei added that in North Malaita the contractors will start work early next year.

He said so far a social assessment team is in Malaita this week doing visibility assessment.

“After all the assessment is done tender will be sent out and work will kick off as early as next year,” Mr Kirei said.

Funding for the project came from the Asian Development Bank.


By GINA MAKA’A

[Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/]