The Fiji Roads Authority confirms that a design/repair solution for the Tamavua‑I‑Wai Bridge is underway following detailed investigation work carried out on the bridge by FRA engineers.
FRA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rory Garland says the immediate objective is to re‑open the closed lane on the bridge.
One of the main steel beams supporting the central section of the bridge has a serious crack.
Garland says the damage was serious enough for FRA to be concerned for public safety and they had no choice but to close one lane to traffic.
He says the engineers are proposing to use a new section of steel to reinforce the damaged section.
The proposed repair will go through a stringent design process and will be thoroughly checked to ensure that it is strong enough.
Garland says they will also need to build a scaffold structure under the bridge tonight to provide access for the contractors to carry out the repair work.
Meanwhile Garland says the crack on the beam has been caused by overloaded trucks.
He says this bridge was last inspected in 2012 following concerns that it was not in good condition. Engineers at the time rated it as “medium priority” for repair or replacement.
However the overloaded trucks have caused this problem now.
Serious concerns are now being raised on how the authorities are ensuring that overloaded trucks are not going on the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge.
Fijivillage has video footage and photos of large container trucks and other big trucks carrying materials past the bridge towards Lami earlier today.
FRA says monitoring and enforcement is being carried out by the Land Transport Authority.
Fijivillage has established that there is no checking of the weight for loaded vehicles from the Suva end of the bridge.
The only weighbridge is currently located outside the LTA office in Lami.
The lane that is closed for now is unsafe and the lane that is open at the moment is safe as long as overloaded trucks do not go over the bridge.
Garland confirms that they have picked up some overloaded trucks today and he hopes that people will stop doing this.
Garland says over 100 of the 1,200 bridges in Fiji which have been assessed as “high priority” require immediate repair or replacement.
Garland says trucks which we know to be sometimes over twice the weight they should be, are doing untold damage to our roads and bridges.
The end result is that they will not last as long as they should and FRA will be forced to close bridges faster than they can rebuild or repair them.
Garland also says that overloading is costing Fiji over $30m per year and now it’s starting to interrupt daily travel.
Thousands of workers and students arrived late to work and school this morning due to the one lane restriction.
Some motorists we spoke to say it took them one hour to get from central Lami area to the city.
Others travelling from Pacific Harbour say that it took them more than 1 and half hour from Kalekana to the bridge.
Garland is calling for patience as they have to carry out the repairs for the safety of the travelling public.
Fijivillage witnessed a number of workers and students trying to make their way to Walu Bay at about 9.45 this morning.
Some students were also seen walking to Walu Bay after 9am today due to the huge traffic jam.
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