Additional Financing for the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project Became Effective
The Solomon Islands Government has officially received from the World Bank the Declaration of Effectiveness for the Additional Financing for the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2) in the amount of US$51.2 million on March 3, 2025, marking a significant milestone in advancing the country’s road and aviation infrastructure.
The Additional Financing will support critical infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to Suavanao Airfield and major road works on Malaita. It also covers a financing gap due to exchange rate fluctuations and cost escalations. Restructuring was also undertaken to commission a common regional virtual private network at Honiara Airport, purchase additional ground support equipment at Honiara and Munda Airports, and provide technical support and training to the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands and Solomon Islands Airport Corporation Limited.
The upgrades at Suavanao Airfield will include the survey of unexploded ordnance and the construction of a new drainage channel on the southern side. The existing side drainage will be deepened, and the runway elevation will be raised to enhance safety and resilience. The base course will be constructed, and the currently unsealed runway, taxiway, and apron will be sealed with bituminous surfacing.
Airfield ground lighting and line markings will also be installed to improve operational reliability, while a small terminal will be constructed to enhance passenger comfort. These improvements will enable all-weather flight access and significantly boost airfield safety, connectivity, and passenger experience, promoting tourism in Isabel Province and providing spillover effects to other destinations.
In addition to airfield enhancements, the Additional Financing will support critical roadworks to improve accessibility and safety in Malaita. The East Road between Baratoro and Atori (21 km) will undergo pothole repairs, crossfall correction, enhanced drainage and culverts, concrete pavement on steep sections, slope stabilization, routine maintenance, grading, regravelling, and road safety improvements.
The North Road between Auki Gwaunaru’u Airfield Junction and Kwaisuliniu Road Junction (12 km) will be upgraded by sealing the gravel road with double bituminous surface treatment and concrete pavement.
These improvements aim to reduce travel time, enhance safety, and ensure year-round connectivity for local communities and businesses. The Project Support Team is currently finalizing a direct selection of the SIRAP2 design and supervision services consultant for the scale-up investments, with the investigation and design phase expected to commence shortly.
With the Additional Financing, SIRAP2 has become a US$140.41 million project that finances, among others, construction of four new bridges in Malaita (Kolofe1, Kolofe2, Su’u Harbor, and Bira Bridges), improvements to 10 km of Noro Roads and 33 km of Malaita Roads, upgrading of Honiara and Munda International Airports and Santa Cruz (Lata) Airfields, installation of new air navigation systems in Makira-Ulawa and Temotu, and support for regional airport maintenance.
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-SIRAP Press Release