The Challenge

Building climate-resilient infrastructure in Fiji, and the Asia-Pacific region, involves challenges unique to its remote geography and creative allocation of resources. The proximity to the ocean and resultant impacts, and significant agricultural activities, which impacting construction planning was a major consideration to meeting project completion.

The project also faced challenges during COVID-19 including the timely completion of topographical survey, mobilising resources internally and from overseas impacting both the Supervision Consultant and the Contractor. Delays often occur during construction due to insufficient resourcing, accessibility or weather conditions. For this project, we also had to navigate the surveying (and project construction) start through the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many projects, this caused disruptions to the team’s ability to progress as planned.

Ensuring the high quality of aggregate materials for road construction is a key focus for the region, as superior materials are essential for building long-lasting and durable infrastructure. Addressing this challenge strengthens the financial stability and resilience needed throughout the project life cycle. Additionally, the emigration of skilled workers has resulted in a shortage of technical expertise, making it harder to meet rising infrastructure demands and adopt best practices from countries like Australia and New Zealand, which impacts the maintenance of industry standards.  For example, the use of polymer-modified asphalt, an advanced and costly material not widely known or used in Fiji, was considered for the Kings Road upgrade project. Stringent technical requirements failed to be met, and the team opted to use a conventional asphalt mix instead.

Our Solution

SMEC navigated these challenges by upskilling those involved in the project, passing on critical technical knowledge to the wider project team. This enhancement of the local skill set on common practices in Australia and New Zealand, was undertaken as an effort to close this gap of technical knowledge in the region. SMEC has a long history of supporting capacity building initiatives and facilitating knowledge sharing among stakeholders to foster innovation and best practices in the transport sector. We simplified engineering practices and collaborated with locals to implement foundational principles, keeping the project simple to implement.

The key to the project’s success was the collaboration and inclusion of local communities in the development of infrastructure. Designing roads to meet their needs enhanced access to essential services such as healthcare education, and markets. Improved infrastructure facilitated the movement of people and goods between major centres, and the incorporation of local knowledge supported the long-term maintenance requirements after project completion.

While the future is unpredictable, designing and delivering solutions that are both scalable and adaptable ensures they meet current needs and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Drawing on SMEC’s network of global specialists, the team provided tailored solutions that balanced community needs and environmental best practices while addressing the unique requirements of the project.

Future-proofing Road infrastructure for Fiji

Like many island nations in the region, Fiji is vulnerable to climate change, including more frequent severe weather events, which threaten connectivity and essential services. To address these, building climate-resilient infrastructure, especially roads, is vital. The Government of Fiji, with support from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, are investing in key sections of Fiji road network to enhance resilience.

International funding and technical expertise from firms like SMEC are crucial in supporting local infrastructure development. SMEC’s involvement across the Asia-Pacific region and partnerships with the funding institutions illustrates our commitment to capacity-building initiatives and delivering impactful projects that benefit local communities.

This project provides safe, reliable connectivity within Viti Levu, supporting trade, tourism, agriculture and social-economic prosperity. By leveraging our technical expertise, fostering partnerships and promoting eco-friendly designs, SMEC is driving lasting positive change in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to sustainable growth and resilience for future generations.