More streetlights expected to be installed and improved around the country - FRA

Good news for motorists and pedestrians as visibility will be improved at night making streets safer to walk in following the allocation of $20.5 million to the Fiji Roads Authority for their Streetlight Improvement Programme.

In an aim to create secure streets and communities Fiji Roads Authority says the programme will also allow businesses to operate during evening hours.

$1.2 million has been allocated for the Suva-Nausori Street lighting Programme, $3.1 million has been allocated for the Kings Road street lighting programme from Tavarau in Ba to Nausori while $2.06 million has been allocated for the Streetlight Programme from Labasa to Savusavu.

New street lights will also be installed with an allocation of $5.0 million while $1.4 million has been allocated for solar street lighting.       

FRA Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Moore believes that the budget allocation of $563.1 million to FRA in the 2018-2019 national budget will allow them to conduct more durable repairs to the roads.

Moore says that within their budget they will also be able to conduct some capital and bridge works.

He says that they are going away from the reactive pothole repairs and more into the durable casual repairs.

Moore says that this budget will help them kick start a number of major projects.

Meanwhile, in the 2018-2019 national budget, FRA has been allocated $11.90 million for emergency repairs, $74 million for renewals and replacements of roads and services and $67.64 million for upgrading and replacements of bridges.

$66.63 million has also been allocated for upgrading of rural roads while $18.22 million is for jetties maintenance and renewals.