By Katalina Siasau
At the end of a two-day visit to Tonga, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, visited the Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge Project at Folaha. Set to become the largest infrastructure development in Tonga, the project is being constructed by a New Zealand engineering company McConnell Dowell.
The 720-metre bridge will link Nukuʻalofa to the southeastern side of Tongatapu, improving connectivity across the island. It is funded by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Government of Tonga.
Under a grant of USD $80 million by the Asian Development Bank through its Tonga Sustainable Economic Corridors and Urban Resilience Project (SECURE), the bridge is the largest development partner-financed project in Tonga’s history.
Tongatapu, the country’s most populous island, is highly vulnerable to coastal flooding, cyclones, and tsunamis. The SECURE project aims to address these risks while enhancing transport and resilience.
In addition to the bridge, the project includes 2.1 kilometres of approach roads designed to reduce traffic congestion, strengthen connectivity, and improve emergency evacuation routes around Nukuʻalofa. It will also upgrade 7.3 kilometres of drainage systems to improve water security and reduce flooding.
The project is led by the Asian Development Bank and delivered in partnership with the World Bank under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework, an innovative co-financing model that streamlines joint project design and implementation.
Together, the ADB and World Bank are expected to provide approximately USD $120 million in grant financing. The Government of Tonga is contributing an additional $25 million.
ADB’s $80 million contribution is financed through its Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to the most vulnerable countries across Asia and the Pacific.
