Transport infrastructure has the power to change how communities live, work, and grow. For decades, the success of transport infrastructure has been measured by outputs: kilometres of road built, budgets spent, and timelines met. But these metrics only tell part of the story. What they often miss is one of the most important questions: “What actually changed for the people who use the road every day?” This question becomes even more critical in the context of climate change and its growing impact on transport infrastructure, particularly rural roads. Many roads in developing countries were originally built to standards that no longer reflect current climate conditions, making them increasingly vulnerable to damage and failure. As a result, rehabilitation and upgrading efforts require a fundamentally different approach that explicitly accounts for climate risks and integrates design features that enhance long-term resilience. Only by adopting this approach can infrastructure investments deliver lasting, positive impacts on the livelihoods of the communities they serve.

The rehabilitation of the Enga Highway in Papua New Guinea offers a powerful opportunity to explore this, and to realize that long team impact is actually achievable through climate resilient engineering approach.