A new case study on Star Rating for Designs in Samoa is now available for download.

On the Central Cross Island Road in Samoa, Star Rating for Design enabled improvements prior to construction, increasing the 3-star road length for vehicle occupants from 23% to 73%.

The Central Cross Island Road is one of Samoa’s most critical arterials. It stretches 22 km with 20km upgrade providing access to 8 villiages, 7,000 residents and hundreds of businesses between the capital, Apia, and the island’s south. It is an important alternative route for cyclone evacuation and post-disaster relief.

The corridor was badly damaged in Tropical Cyclone Evan. It is narrow and lacks pedestrian facilities in semi-urban areas to protect commuters and pedestrians, including school and college students, walking at the roadside. The road alignment in hilly sections is unsafe, particularly in wet conditions.

A USD$40 million grant upgrade project is underway, funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), to make the road safer, more efficient and climate and disaster resilient. The road designs were made safer prior to construction supported by iRAP Star Rating for Designs.