Kiribati
2.3 Kiribati Road Network

Kiribati Roads

The main island of Tarawa has 33 km of sealed road and 8 km of feeder roads. It is the lone vehicular transport route on the atoll. Using World Bank Finance, the road has recently been upgraded to provide good access between the seaport of Betio and the airport on Tarawa. it includes  footpaths, improved drainage, speed humps, solar street lighting, and road signage. Due to the nature of the low-lying topography, this road is under constant threat of flooding and erosion by the sea.

The Japanese Government is funding an upgrade of the causeway between Tarawa Island and Betio Island. The upgrade will provide wider and less flood-prone access between the Port of Betio, the capital Bairiki, and the rest of Tarawa. It is due for completion by early 2019. 

There is no vehicular access to the Northern islands of Tarawa from the south. 

Christmas Island has a tar sealed road that circumnavigates the Island that was built by the USA immediately post-war. It is in very good condition and allows good access to all settlements. 

Outlying islands have limited crushed coral roads that are generally all weather. Motorbikes are the main form of transport on these islands.


For more information on government contact details, please see the following link:  4.1 Government Contact List

Distance Matrix

 

Bairiki

Betio Port

Bikenibeu

Bonriki Airport

Bairiki

 

6

17

23

Betio Port

6

 

23

29

 Bikenibeu

17

23

 

6

Bonriki Airport

23

29

6

 

Travel Time Matrix

Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (minutes)

 

Bairiki

Betio Port

Bikenibeu

Bonriki Airport

Bairiki

 

20

35

50

Betio Port

20

 

55

70

Bikenibeu

35

55

 

15

Bonriki Airport

50

70

15

 

Road Security

 

Vehicle travel is generally slow moving (there are regular speed humps) so there is little danger of high-speed collisions. Surface water or erosion from rain or high tides is the biggest issue and can often result in closures. Feeder roads are generally unformed crushed coral tracks between villages and houses, narrow and unsuitable for heavy vehicles.


 

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