BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project Phase Two (SIRAP 2) will soon kick off work on several roads in Malaita province.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).
The partnership also yielded the successful completion of a number of bridges in the province under the same programme.
Speaking at a press conference organised by MID this week, Deputy Secretary Technical, Mike Qaqara gave an update on the SIRAP 2 project.
Qaqara said SIRAP 2 is being implemented in both Malaita and Western provinces. In Malaita, a total of four bridges has been constructed under the project.
He said the Bira and Su’u bridges on the South Road have already been completed and are now open to the public, while works on Kolofe 1 and Kolofe 2 bridges along the North Road are nearing completion.
In terms of road works, Qaqara said a request for bids has been issued for the East Road project, starting from Baratolo, which covers approximately 21 kilometres from Dala to Atori.
He said the tender for the project is expected to be released on 26 March 2026, with implementation to follow thereafter.
Under SIRAP 2, the project will also extend road sealing from Gwaunaru Junction to Kwaisuliniu, covering approximately 12 kilometres along the North Road.
Qaqara added that discussions are ongoing to further extend the sealing works beyond Kwaisuliniu to Dala, an additional of one to three kilometres.
For Western Province, he said the Noro Road Improvement Project was officially handed over yesterday in Noro, marking a significant milestone for SIRAP 2.
SIRAP 2 Project Manager, Richard Farrell said the project is funded by the World Bank with a total budget of US$140.41 million, equivalent to approximately SBD$1.1 billion.
He noted that this is a substantial investment, with a significant portion of the funding allocated to the aviation sector.
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