Improved roads driving renewed confidence in Samoa

Setu Timoteo is the proud owner of Princess Toe’s Takeaway Store in Utualli, on Upolo island, Samoa. His store, situated alongside the West Coast Road, which runs between the capital, Apia and the country’s international airport, is open from morning till after midnight, offers groceries, phone cards, and now, popular fried fish, chicken, and chips. “The secret of my business is my recipe … to make the chicken and fish fresh and delicious!” Setu shares with a laugh.

But it’s not just his secret ingredients that are helping his business boom. The location on the recently-upgraded plays a significant role. Previously, this crucial road suffered extensive damage from cyclones and storm surges. “When the wave came along, the wave came here … [it] pulled in all the stones from the road … and the road was broken,” Setu recalls.

The upgrades to the West Coast Road are part of the World Bank-supported Pacific Climate Resilient Transport Program, which is working in seven Pacific countries – including Samoa – to improve vital infrastructure and make communities more resilient to extreme weather events and climate change. 

Sean Michaels, Senior Infrastructure Specialist for the World Bank, emphasizes the importance of this program.

“The countries in the Pacific region are possibly the most exposed to the effects of climate change and severe weather events...” said Sean. “It's a very difficult challenge for them. Some have been incredibly hard hit with devastating impacts resulting in loss of life, jobs and access to essential services such as schools and hospitals.”.  

The program focuses on upgrading vital infrastructure like roads, jetties, ports and airports to withstand extreme weather, ensuring communities remain connected during disasters. The West Coast Road’s upgrade included improved drainage and enhanced protection from storm surges, benefiting everyone, including the young, elderly, and those with disabilities.

There is now a renewed confidence in the road, which is helping the community travel safely to work, school or to care for their family, even during extreme weather. Setu appreciates the added protection. “We were living with a lot of changes to climate change, but the sea wall is a good protection for us … doing that sea wall really saved us,” he said. 

Ethna Moala, a stall owner at nearby Sauvao market, shares this sentiment. The previously damaged road impacted her business, but the new road has brought more customers. “The new road has been a blessing for me. There are heaps of cars pulling over, and lots of people are coming to buy stuff from my stall. There has been much more improvement since the new road was completed,” Ethna noted.

Ethna's livelihood depends on selling fresh produce at her stall to provide for her household, which includes her six children, husband, parents and uncle. If bad weather closes her stall, it also halts her much-needed income. “If there is heavy rain or a storm, I cannot open my stall and there will be no income for my family,” Ethna said. “When we are facing bad weather, I am worried.”

The improved road drainage means that Ethna can spend fewer days closed due to the impact of heavy rains. 

“One thing I like about this new road is the drainage. The water no longer flows straight inside the stall but goes straight into the drains,” Ethna said.  

While physical improvements like drainage and sea walls are vital, Sean Michaels stresses that making infrastructure accessible to everyone is crucial. “Roads provide access to economic opportunity. So it's really important that when countries build roads, the benefits are enjoyed equally by all segments of the population,” he said. 

While physical improvements like drainage and sea walls are vital, Sean Michaels stresses that making infrastructure accessible to everyone is crucial. “Roads provide access to economic opportunity. So it's really important that when countries build roads, the benefits are enjoyed equally by all segments of the population,” he said. 

In Samoa, improving accessibility has involved making the road more user-friendly to pedestrians and people living with a disability – work delivered in consultation with Samoa’s key disability advocacy organisation, Nuanua O Le Alofa, as well as efforts to encourage more women to drive. Only around one quarter of road users in Samoa are women, and many are unlicensed. The World Bank is working with the Land Transport Authority to help women get their license and benefit from these upgraded facilities.

With these upgrades, not only will Setu and Ethna see more customers, but the entire Samoan community will benefit from better access to schools, workplaces, and healthcare. This infrastructure, rebuilt with the community's needs in mind, is a testament to Samoa’s resilience and adaptability in the face of climate change.

This project is part of the World Bank-supported Pacific Climate Resilient Transport Program. The $338.6 million program, which supports governments in six countries through eight projects, is upgrading vital transport infrastructure – roads, maritime sites (ports, wharves, and jetties) and an airport – to help make communities more resilient to extreme weather events and climate change.

The entire program is funded through grants and credits delivered through the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s fund for the world’s most in-need countries.