Enhancing the Climate Resilience of the West Coast Road

The objective of the Enhancing the Climate Resilience of the West Coast Road (WCR) Project for Samoa was to: (i) improve the climate resilience of the West Coast Road; and (ii) enhance local capacity to develop a more climate resilient road network. There were three components to the project, the first component being Improving Climate Resilience of the WCR. This component implemented measures to strengthen the climate resilience of the economically critical WCR, which is a key Government of Samoa (GoS) objective under the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR). Works improved the road pavement between Vailoa junction in Apia and Faleolo International Airport (approximately 26 km) by raising and strengthening vulnerable sections of the WCR, sealing shoulders, and improving longitudinal and cross drainage. The second component was the vulnerability assessment of the Samoa road network. This component involved technical assistance that will directly support the SPCR by bringing about transformative change in the way that climate change is addressed in the Samoa roads sector. Finally, the third component is the project management and operating costs. The project supported the implementation of 2,000 meter of new vegetated coastal scour protection, which were planted by the communities. These measures were intended to help enhance climate resilience of the road by reducing wave overtopping and coastal erosion, especially during storm surge.