📋 Tender Overview
Project Name
Sustainable Economic Corridors and Urban Resilience Project
Project Number
53045-002
Country / Economy
Tonga
Project Status
Proposed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Grant
Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant: Fanga'uta Lagoon Bridge Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 70.00 million
TA: Strengthening Urban Resilience, Climate-Smart Mobility, and Emergency Preparedness in Tonga (attached TA)
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 1.00 million
Sector / Subsector
Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Urban public transport
Gender
Effective gender mainstreaming
Description
The proposed project will build a bridge across the Fanga'uta Lagoon in Nuku'alofa, the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga (Tonga). The crossing will consist of an approximately 720 m long bridge and 4.96 km of approach roads from Nuku'alofa to Vaini, southern Tongatapu. The project will (i) provide reduced traffic congestion and shorter journey for people living in or traveling to and from Nuku'alofa and the southern parts of Tongatapu; (ii) provide an evacuation route to higher areas in the event of a tsunami and extreme weather events; and (iii) facilitate long-term climate change-induced relocation of communities currently living in low-lying areas to higher areas.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Tonga is in the South Pacific Ocean and comprises around 170 islands in an archipelago, of which 36 are populated. Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, has approximately 75,000 residents, or nearly 70% of Tonga's population. Roads play a vital role in social and business connectivity on the main island. Nuku'alofa, located on the north coast of Tongatapu, is home to the country's critical infrastructure and services, such as government offices, the country's main port, hospitals, commercial hubs, schools, and water and power utilities. The traffic growth of 2.9% per annum in Nuku'alofa has resulted in congestion on the main and feeder roads into the city center. The heavy traffic congestion restricts regional areas surrounding Nuku'alofa access to employment, education, health, and government services in the city.
Nuku'alofa is on low-lying land, with much of its infrastructure stock susceptible to sea level rise and other climate-induced risks such as storm surges and coastal erosion. Consequently, the entire country's economic and operational vulnerability to disasters resulting from natural hazards, such as tsunami, tropical cyclones, and floods, is extreme.
Impact
Transport sector enhanced to sustain economic growth (Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2015-2025).
Outcome
Connectivity and road network in Tongatapu improved
Outputs
Fanga'uta Bridge and its approach roads constructed
Capacity of the MOI in road network management and O&M strengthened
Geographical Location
Nation-wide
