Using Data for Better Road Management
Media release
Officials will be better placed to manage road maintenance in Solomon Islands after receiving data training under the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership.
Staff from the Transport Infrastructure Management Services Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) asset management team attended an intensive week of workshops in Honiara, focused on improving MID’s use of road and bridge condition data to manage annual maintenance expenditure more effectively.
Acting Australian High Commissioner, Andrew Schloeffel, said the training was part of a long-term agreement between MID and Australia to improve the management and maintenance of Solomon Islands roads and bridges.
“Better roads mean better economic opportunities and a better quality of life for Solomon Islanders,” Mr Schloeffel said. "Australia is in this for the long haul – not only are we funding road upgrades, we’re working with government to strengthen planning and budgeting and ensure those long-term benefits are realised.”
The ministry says the new skills will help extend the benefits of the many road upgrades currently underway in both Honiara and across the provinces.
“Having the right tools and systems in place to manage our national network of roads and bridges is vital,” Moffat Hoawe, MID’s asset manager said. “The system also helps to support decision making by identifying and prioritising the most economical routes for development planning.
“Safe and sustainable roads are the key to connecting Solomon Islands communities to growth and economic opportunities.”
The capacity support is in addition to Australia’s $60 million support to the National Transport Fund Road Improvement Project, which is currently upgrading eight feeder roads in Honiara and four key economic corridors in Malaita.
Each project is being contracted to local companies, creating hundreds of jobs and improved infrastructure capacity along the way.
