Restricted movement for Tamavua-I-Wai bridge

There is now restricted movement on the Tamavua‑I‑Wai Bridge along Queens Road.

The Fiji Roads Authority said this restriction to one lane of traffic over Tamavua‑I‑Wai Bridge is urgent and necessary while structural engineers work to determine the extent of the damage to the bridge.

FRA confirmed that one of the bridge beams has suffered significant damage.

It is expected that repairs will take a few days.

This timeline will be confirmed later today.

The priority for FRA is to ensure safe journeys across the bridge therefore members of the public are advised to expect delays to travel time through the area.

This is affecting thousands of people coming into Suva along Queens Road and those going out of Suva along the highway.

For those who do not have to come to Suva to work, school and other business, FRA urges people to use local shops and facilities in Lami to avoid having to cross the bridge.

Trucks are not to overload.

FRA said this route has some of the most overloaded trucks in the country and they are destroying the roads and bridges.

The Authority is optimistic that the two lanes can open up again in under a week and engineers will be working around the clock to make this happen.

FRA may also impose weight or speed restrictions.

In the medium term, FRA is not ruling out the possibility of erecting a bailey bridge at the site, however this and a few more options will be decided over the next few days.