Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is happy to announce that the Cogeloa Bridge in Labasa is now completed five months ahead of schedule and is open to public.

The commencement date was April 20, 2016 and the completion date was September 20, 2016.

FRA Program Manager for Bridges and Jetties, Nixon Toremana says the 59.5m bridge was initially aimed to be completed by February 2017 but they were five months ahead of schedule.

“The Cogeloa Bridge was one of the priority bridges identified by FRA needing immediate replacement,” Mr Toremana said.

“We had to demolish the original bridge because it was unsafe for vehicle and public use due to the deteriorating condition of the bridge superstructure and replace it with a new bridge.”

He said the new bridge will bring great relief to the community, especially to school children and sugarcane farmers.

“The Cogeloa Bridge has been transformed from a single-lane bridge to a structure with increased capacity, which can support the single-lane traffic, a railway crossing line as well as a pedestrian pathway.”

Mr Toremana said the nearby communities will now also have safer and much better access to health, school, markets and other facilities.

“We would like to thank our consultant and our contractor, Fletcher Construction Company for a job well done. They have been committed since day one in getting this structure reconstructed.”

He said they had ensured that all works carried out on the site was completed with minimum impact upon the local environment and residents.

“We thank the people of Cogeloa for their patience and support during the construction period.”

He said the new bridge has cost FRA approximately F$4.39 Million under the Bridges and Jetties Renewals Budget and is designed to comply with the 100 year design life.

Fletcher Construction Company was awarded the tender to design and build Four Long Bridges that include the Vunidilo Bridge in Wailoku, Vunivaivai Bridge in Tailevu, Lomawai Bridge in Sigatoka and now the Cogeloa Bridge in Labasa.

Mr Toremana said FRA is pleased to announce that all four bridges were completed ahead of schedule and under a budget of $16million.