A sizeable culvert is being replaced at the southern end of Muri as a project to fix and resurface the stretch of road known at the “Golden Mile” nears completion.

Member of Parliament for Ngatangiia Tukaka (Kaka) Amayesterday confirmed there had been inland flooding issues in the vicinity, leading up to project. 

Work is underway this week to address the matter with several 10 metre cylinder shaped concrete spans set to be placed in the ground as the Main Rd neighbouring Moana Sands Lagoon Resort is dug up.

Ama said the issue of inland flooding, on the inland side of the road, had worsened in recent months.

Infrastructure Cook Islands had “crawled” under the bridge which he estimated to be about 40 to 50-yeard-old, he said.

What workers found, was a collapsed culvert, right under the middle of the road.

Ama said the whole culvert had collapsed, and as water was not flowing, it was backing up on the inland side.

The work comes towards the end of a resealing project along the stretch of road through Muri.

In May, Ama told Cook Islands News he wanted that stretch of road known as the “Golden Mile” fixed and resurfaced before the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting on Rarotonga in November.

The work got underway just south of the Bridge at Avana Harbour a couple of months ago, where workers spent considerable time clearing a hairy stretch of winding coastal road on the northern side of Muri, before making their way through the settlement down to Moana Sands at the south end.

Yesterday, Ama said workers will soon head back to the northern end of Muri, at the bridge in Avana Harbour, and start laying hot mix asphalt.

Ama said the culvert replacement will likely be completed by the time road crews make their way south with the hot mix sealing work.

New businesses have been popping up through the Main Rd in Muri, as the Cook Islands recovers from Covid-19, and concerns have been raised about whether the infrastructure is there to support further growth.

In February, Ama confirmed concerns had been raised about whether the infrastructure was there to support further growth of Muri. 

Expanding the business district in Muri needed to be managed carefully while infrastructure issues such as potholes in the road, and threats to the health of the lagoon were still unresolved, he said.

“As the newly elected member for Muri I am endeavoring to have the new road surface finished before the end of the year,” he said at the time.

“We have drainage problems along this route that have to be engineered as well as other infrastructure concerns. I want the work finished before November, in time for the Pacific Forum. I want Muri to be a show place for our Pacific visitors”.