The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) has successfully completed a post-construction road safety audit for key road and bridge works in Malaita Province. This milestone audit focused on the roads and bridges upgraded under the World Bank-funded Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP), including those between Gwaunaru’u road junction on North Road and Baratalo on East Road via Forcim Market in Dala; and Koa, Bio1 and Bio2 Bridges.
The Road Safety Auditor was accompanied by a team from MID, SIRAP Project Support Team, Contractors, and the Supervision Consultant on November 18, 2024. The audit aimed to assess the quality, durability, and safety of the roads, ensuring they meet the needs of the local communities and contribute to the region’s long-term development.
A one-day workshop on “Effectiveness of Safety Improvements” was also held on November 20, 2024, in Honiara for MID engineers and technical officers. The workshop reviewed the audit’s findings, discussed safety improvements, and explored opportunities for enhancing road usability and resilience.
Key aspects of the audit include evaluating whether the roads were built to the required standards and can withstand the challenges of the region’s environment, assessing the effectiveness of safety measures implemented during construction, including signage, drainage systems, and road alignments and considering how the roads have improved mobility, access to services, and overall safety for residents.
“This audit shows our commitment to improving infrastructure and ensuring public funds are well spent,” said Allan Lilia, Permanent Secretary of MID. “It helps us deliver roads that meet the needs of our communities while ensuring they are safe, sustainable, and durable.”
The auditor will prepare and submit a final report that outlines their findings for the road and bridge works. Any recommendations made will include ways of improving construction practices, ensuring long-term maintenance, and integrating strategies to enhance the climate resilience and safety of roads across Solomon Islands.
The insights from the audit will be used to guide the planning and implementation of upcoming infrastructure projects, ensuring they deliver maximum benefits for local communities and align with global best practices.
In addition to the road safety audit under SIRAP, the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project is funding several other key infrastructure projects, including improving Noro Roads, constructing four new bridges in Malaita (Kolofe1, Kolofe2, Su’u Harbor, and Bira Bridges), upgrades to Honiara, Munda, and Santa Cruz (Lata) Airports, new air navigation systems for Makira-Ulawa and Temotu Provinces and maintenance of regional airports.
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