BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The PRC-funded Auki Road Network Rehabilitation project in Malaita Province is making progress.
Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) in a statement said the project contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is preparing for the asphalt sealing phase.
CCECC is currently focused on drainage and ditching, with the installation of heavy-duty, concrete-lined drainage systems across the 9.2 km road network.
These reinforced ditches are designed to manage surface runoff and protect Auki’s town center and residential areas from erosion.
The CCECC team is also working on steel rebar loops, which will enhance the structural integrity of the road. These reinforcements will eventually integrate with new pedestrian footpaths and shoulder protection.
The project spans the main highway from Kilu’ufi Hospital to Kwaibala Bridge, as well as 16 feeder roads within Auki town.
One significant aspect of the project, as highlighted by Mr Mike Qaqara, Deputy Secretary of MID, is the relocation of utilities.
He noted that the Ministry and CCECC are collaborating with local utility service providers—Solomon Power, Solomon Water, and Solomon Telekom—to relocate water, power, and telephone lines.
These utility relocations are among the final tasks before the asphalt sealing begins. Once completed, the project will provide Auki with a durable, 50mm-thick asphalt pavement expected to last for the next 10–20 years.
The PRC-funded Auki Road project has also created employment opportunities, with around 200 Malaitans working alongside technical experts and gaining valuable skills in construction.
MID said this project reflects the government’s National Transport Infrastructure Plan 2017-2035.
Photo credit: MID
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