Lauru Valley Jacob’s Ladder construction resumes after TC Maila

GIZO, Western Province – WORK on the CAUSE II Project’s Lauru Valley Jacob’s Ladder (JL) in Gizo has resumed and is progressing steadily, just one week after Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila caused widespread disruption across the Solomon Islands.
Construction of the 120 meters Jacob’s Ladder by the Lauru Valley Ladder Group began in February 2026 and had been advancing smoothly prior to the cyclone. The project is part of the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE II) Project, funded by the World Bank and the Australian Government in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila brought destructive winds of up to 185 km/h, with stronger gusts recorded, making it one of the most powerful cyclones to impact the country in recent years. The storm caused extensive damage across Western, Choiseul and Isabel provinces, displacing around 120 people and affecting an estimated 73,000 nationwide.
Despite these challenges, members of the Lauru Valley community—including youth and women continue to engage in the project— having shown strong resilience. While still recovering and rebuilding their homes and livelihoods, the group has regrouped and resumed construction activities this week.
CAUSE II Project Resident Works Supervisor for Gizo, Darren Tefenoli, acknowledged the impact of the cyclone on progress.
“The cyclone was a setback for us. It delayed our work by about a week, and progress has been slower than expected. However, we are still within schedule,” he said.
Encouragingly, the partially completed Jacob’s Ladder structure withstood the cyclone without damage. Since resuming work, team morale has remained high, and construction progress has picked up steadily.
“We are optimistic about completing the project on schedule, by the end of this month,” Mr. Tefenoli added.
Once completed, the Lauru Valley Jacob’s Ladder—is expected to significantly improve safe access for more than 500 residents, enhancing daily connectivity and mobility within the community.
CAUSE II, implemented by the Solomon Islands Government, is supported by the World Bank and the Australian Government through the PNG and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The initiative aims to improve urban infrastructure, strengthen climate resilience, and create employment opportunities across key urban centres in Solomon Islands.

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