The construction work for the second phase of the rehabilitation of the West Coast Road Project which was projected to be completed by March of this year is now near completion.

The drive from Fasitoo-Tai towards Faleoolo which was usually bumpy and dusty is now not only clean but smooth and wide with the addition of footpaths on the sides.

This not only brings joy to the road-side families as well as motorists who have been enduring dirt and dusts over the years but also a great start to preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M.) in October.

A resident from Faleatiu, Tama Faatamoe acknowledged the government for the initiative as it's been long since the West Coast Road has been destroyed.

"It's especially convenient for us now who drive on this road everyday because the old road has been the main factor to damaging our vehicles but also in terms of the dust," he said.

"But we're grateful that that nightmare is over and also it's good for our tourism because I see on social media that this is one of the things that many tourists and visiting families constantly complain about when they come to Samoa s it's really good."

Mr. Faatamoe and his extended family live close to the road and they said during the road works, they also endured dust from the construction works.

Samoa Observer understands that this is the same feeling as most of the residents on the West Coast road.

Meanwhile, the road project is delayed by months as the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.), Olo Fiti Va'ai confirmed in a previous interview that the project is projected to be completed by March, however, he was of the view that it will be completed by next month. 

Motorists expressed concerns during the festive season about the conditions of the roads coming from the Mulifanua Wharf and at Faleolo, especially with the heavy downpours throughout Christmas week last year.

They were worried about the impacts it would have on their cars, especially while the workers from the contractor company were also on holiday. 

As for the renovations needed for the international airport at Faleolo, Olo confirmed that it is expected to be completed by the end of June or July before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M.) in October. 

Local construction company, Ott Constructors Co. Ltd was awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the West Coast Road in two phases from Faleolo to Vailu'utai and Vailu'utai to West Circuit. 

The project is funded by the World Bank under the Samoa Climate Resilience Transport Project (S.C.R.T.P.) and construction companies (both local and overseas) had until November of last year to submit applications to take up the project. 

The Tender Awards on the Ministry of Finance's website confirmed that three companies made bids including the winning company, Ott Constructors Co. Ltd, Ulia Construction and China Civil Engineering Construction Co. 

The Chinese construction company that expressed interest in taking up this project is the same company that won the contract to take up the reconstruction of Samoa's Cross Island Road earlier last year. 

The Ott Constructors Co. Ltd won the contract to carry out road constructions for Lot 1A (Faleolo to Vailu'utai 0.712 km to 3.5 km) at the cost of SAT$13,625,458.68 and Lot 1B (Vailu'utai to West Circuit 3.5 km to 4.7 km) for SAT$6,657,691.94. 

Bidding was conducted through International Competitive Procurement procedures using Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers- Procurement in Investment Projects Financing” (July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018) (“Procurement Regulations”), and was open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

The works needed for Lot 1A, Faleolo to Vailu'utai include site clearance along the road alignment including through easements, construction of the earthworks for the new road, construction of new stormwater drainage with associated catch pits, manholes, headwalls, and outfall drains, including outfalls through easements, location, protection and relocation of existing services.

It will also include the construction of roadside surface water channels, construction of new road pavements and surfacing, construction of Sea Walls (Rock Revetment), and installation of traffic signs and pavement markings.

For Lot 1B Vailuutai to West CIR Km 3.5 to Km 4.7, work also includes site clearance along the road alignment including through easements, construction of the earthworks for the new road, construction of new stormwater drainage with associated catchpits, manholes, headwalls, and outfall drains, including outfalls through easements, location, protection and relocation of existing services, construction of roadside surface water channels, construction of new road pavements and surfacing, construction of Sea Walls (Rock Revetment), installation of traffic signs and pavement markings.

The main objective of the project is to improve the climate resilience of Samoa’s road network and improve Government’s ability to respond to an Eligible Crisis.