The Government of Kiribati (GoK) and the World Bank have recently completed an iRAP road safety assessment on Kiritimati Island in the Pacific, as part of the preparation of the proposed Kiribati Kiritimati Infrastructure Project. The project includes upgrades to Cassidy International Airport and the 27km road connecting Cassidy International Airport with the main settlement of London.

The project ambitiously aims to deliver 4-star or better safety levels for all road users on the majority of the upgrade.

An iRAP assessment of the corridor produced Star Ratings of the existing road (baseline) and proposed concept design for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants.

The baseline Star Rating results reveal 19% of the existing road length rates 4-star or better for vehicle occupants, 4% for motorcyclists, 22% for bicyclists and 37% for pedestrians where present.

In contrast, the proposed concept design shows a striking improvement with 100% of the road length set to achieve a 4-star rating for vehicle occupants and bicyclists, 98% for motorcyclists, and 75% for pedestrians.

The main road safety features of the concepts prepared during project preparation, include speed humps to induce vehicle speed reductions; raised pedestrian crossings; wide sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists in urban zones; bus bays with lighting and weather protected shelters enhancing the safety of children and female commuters; and “gateway treatments” to improve safety at the entry and exit of villages, consisting of speed limit signs, road narrowing and speed hump measures.

The proposed road safety measures would achieve significant 4-star or better Star Rating improvements for every road user group, compared to the existing (baseline) corridor

The assessed road corridor connecting Cassidy International Airport with the main settlement of London. The inset images present the existing road and concept stage Star Ratings for vehicle occupants. The proposed concept achieves 4-star or better safety across the entire corridor.

The concept road safety designs produced for the project will be refined further when detailed designs are completed, and community feedback is obtained.

With a focus on improving infrastructure and road safety, Kiribati is paving the way for a safer and more prosperous future for its residents and provides a model for resilience and sustainable development in the face of global challenges.

Images credits: iRAP and Natador @Dreamstime