The people of Tikina Noikoro in the Nadroga-Navosa province will be able to use the new Matewale Bridge by May next year.

Minister for Infrastructure, Meteorological Services, Lands and Mineral Resources, Jone Usamate made a visit to the construction site last week.

The new bridge, which is under construction at a cost of $6.13m is 64-metres in length.

Mr Usamate said that this was one of the crucial bridges in the highlands of Navosa because it connected villages to the main road network.

He was briefed by Fiji Roads Authority and the contractor Fletcher Construction.

Mr Usamate acknowledged the works carried out and reaffirmed that this was part of the government’s commitment to ensure every Fijian has access to a good roading network.

He said the project would benefit people in the Tikina of Noikoro, including villagers to access Sigatoka Town and to government agencies.

“Whenever we have the wet season, up to ten times it gets washed away so the Government has taken this initiative to build this,” he said.

“As a result people will no longer have to wait when the water recedes so they can cross or to transport their goods.”

He added that the project was delayed due to construction issues because wet weather and the COVID-19 lockdown issues

“The physical progress of the construction is at 65 per cent,” he said.

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