Bus services will access the Namuavoivoi-Wainunu Road as soon as the culverts and narrow bridges are attended to, says Fiji Roads Authority chief executive officer, John Hutchinson.

Mr Hutchinson confirmed that a request for tender had been sent out for the design and planning of these crossings and bridges.

Mr Hutchinson said: “Their main objective behind this request is to get the bus service on Namuavoivoi Road which is impossible because of narrow crossings and culverts and overall the Namuavoivoi Road is a Farm Road.”

This confirmation also follows concerns raised by residents on two crossings which were usually underwater creating transportation issues.

Navakasali villager Marika Tamaibece, who uses this road, said that this has made the route inaccessible at times.

“We are really grateful for the development done by the Government in making this farm road more accessible, but it is these crossings which has hindered transportation so we are requesting if we could be assisted accordingly,” Mr Tamaibece said.

“Construction steel is poking out from one of these bridges making it inaccessible during flooding and in the night.”

Mr Hutchinson said that they were aware of the issue and were dealing with it.

“The FRA has completed upgrading works for Namuavoivoi Road, this excludes Bridge works upgrade as it was highlighted to them (people of Wainunu) during PM’s talanoa session early this year at the Cogea Infant School,” he said.

“Those two crossings are Ford Crossings (without culverts) and they are not low level crossings and are designed to be overtopped by river flow during heavy rain – apart from damages that surfaces on the Sigawe bridge in Namuavoivoi. (This is the one that has construction steels poking out.)”

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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