One lane bridge operation for the next 4 weeks

Thousands of people coming into Suva or going out along Queens Highway through the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge will continue to face huge traffic jams for the whole of this month.

Fiji Roads Authority Acting Chief Executive Officer Rory Garland has just announced that they will have to maintain the single lane operation of Tamavua-i-Wai bridge and the 18 tonnes weight restriction possibly for another 4 weeks.

Garland said at the end of the works, we will have a bridge that is good for the next 5 years.

He said they can then go ahead and build a new bridge as part of their normal program.

Garland said they recognize that the one lane operation over the next four weeks will cause disruptions and inconvenience.

He said they will do their best in traffic management and they will also try to move their work ahead as quickly as they can.

Fijivillage continues to get reports from many people coming in from the Lami end that many students and workers are arriving late to school and work.

Some are even arriving at work and school after 9am.

FRA said ;they cannot do much as the repairs have to be carried out and they have taken this decision reluctantly to go ahead with the repairs.

He said the age and condition of the bridge presents too high a risk for the FRA, and they have to move ahead with their plan.

Garland said the option of a Bailey bridge was investigated and would also take around 6 to 8 weeks to install.

Consequently it would not save any of the disruption to road users.