The Fiji Roads Authority has identified Grantham Road as the next clearway traffic management restriction in August in a bid to improve road congestion in Suva’s CBD (Central Business District).

This was confirmed by authority chief executive officer Jonathan Moore during an industry meeting at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation office in Suva in the past week.

The first implementation Stage 1 was the McGregor – Bau – Rewa Street route during peak periods from 6:30 am to 9:30 am and from 4pm to 6:30pm daily. This began on July 8.

“Clearways were just introduced, and there is a general feeling of success. It will be expanded and the other half of the roads will start to be clearways in August,” he said.

An official from the authority confirmed that other roads were also earmarked for the clearway plan next month.

Mr Moore also discussed with industry stakeholders how it was introducing alternate lanes to deal with congestion.

“Princes Road is wide enough for three lanes but not enough for four,” he said.

“So, the plan is to have an alternate use lane in the middle.

“In the morning when you come in to Suva, you will use the middle lane so there will be two lanes for coming in whereas in the afternoon, you have two lanes going out.”

He said the concept worked well all over the world and was effective in improving traffic flow.

He added authority was also going to introduce more restrictions on vehicle dimensions.

Mr Moore said Suva, Nadi, Lautoka, and Labasa were quite old towns and cities and their roads and transportation networks were not designed to take huge trailers and trucks.

“Some have not been designed to take buses even,” he said.

“So, some roads will have 10 or an eight-meter length restriction.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: neelam.prasad@fijisun.com.fj