Climate Resilience Sector Project (CRSP) Evacuation Road in ‘Eua to open soon ^Featured

National Road Engineer from the CRSP PIU Mr. Nikolasi Palu, who is currently in ‘Eua supervising the work said the work is a one year contract.

“This work was supposed to be completed in July 21st but due to damages caused by Cyclone Gita and the recent heavy rain we’ve asked for another three months to complete the work and also construction of a drainage system.”

The Evacuation Road runs up in a slope 1.8km from Tufuvai village connecting to Angahā village, and is aimed for the people to use at times of disaster like tsunami. Tufu (as the village is commonly known) is located at the western side of ‘Eua near the seashore, where Angahā is located further inland at a much higher ground.

He also said that this road will not only cater for the need in time of disaster but it will also boost tourism as it will beautify the Island of ‘Eua, and takes much shorter distance to travel connecting Tufu to the airport and other surrounding villages in the area.

Construction is a challenge since it is quite a lengthy road in a slope.

Mr. Palu said this is the fourth CRSP evacuation road, in addition to the three roads in Tongatapu, at Navutoka, Talafo’ou and Popua.

CRSP currently is the biggest project implemented by the Ministry of MEIDECC under its Climate Change Department. Other important components of CRSP include constructions of 2.1km foreshore of Navutoka and Manuka in Tongatapu, new hospital for Ha’apai, and the establishment of a Trust Fund which have funded 33 community projects of water catchments and evacuation centres throughout Tonga.

-MEIDECC