Construction of new Honiara and Munda control towers advances under SIRAP2, strengthening Solomon Islands aviation.
Construction of the new control tower facilities in Honiara and Munda continues to make steady progress under the Second Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project (SIRAP2).
Major structural works completed in Honiara, while finishing, electrical and installation works are advancing at both sites.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) is implementing the works with financial support from the World Bank. Construction is being undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), with Egis Asia providing supervision consultancy services.
At the Munda Control Tower, ceiling framing, suspension supports and anchoring have been completed on the ground floor in preparation for ceiling closure.
The next stage will include the installation of two layers of fire-rated gypsum board in designated fire-rated rooms, while moisture-resistant gypsum boards in toilets and other wet areas.
Cable pulling and plastering works are currently progressing.
In addition, a tiling mock-up has also commenced in a toilet, including wet-area waterproofing and testing, to guide subsequent finishing works and confirm compliance with required quality and installation standards.
At the Honiara Control Tower, all major structural works have been completed, including the antenna mast foundation at roof level.
Works have now progressed into finishing, electrical and building-services installations.
Surface preparation ahead of plastering is ongoing on the ground-floor exterior walls, shear walls and internal building walls, while blockwork from the ground floor to the third floor is complete.
Cable tray installation is progressing on the ground floor, and cable pulling has advanced up to the third floor.
De-propping, scaffolding removal and housekeeping are also continuing inside the tower building as work areas are progressively cleared for the next stages of construction.
MCA Permanent Secretary Alwyn Danitofea welcomed the progress, saying,
“We are pleased to see steady progress on the new control tower facilities in both Honiara and Munda. These are important national infrastructure projects, and the completion of the major structural works in Honiara is a significant milestone. We remain focused on ensuring that the remaining works are completed to the required standards so these facilities can support safe, reliable and efficient air navigation services for many years to come.”
In preparation for the eventual transfer of equipment and services to the new tower facility, Solomon Islands Airports Corporation Limited (SIACL) and Solomon Telekom have inspected the cable route from the existing tower building to the Main Equipment Room (MER), as well as the route connecting the Very High Frequency (VHF) Room to the Voice Communication and Recording (VCR) Room.
This inspection is an important step in planning the safe and orderly transfer of existing equipment and services and confirming that the new facility can be connected to the necessary communication and operational systems.
The continued progress at both Honiara and Munda represents another important milestone in the delivery of SIRAP2’s aviation infrastructure programme and supports the Government’s efforts to modernise aviation facilities and strengthen safe and reliable air connectivity across Solomon Islands.
SIRAP2 PRESS RELEASE
