$300m Vanua Levu road project on track for late 2026

Fiji and China officially approved the preliminary design of the $300 million Vanua Levu Road Upgrading Project yesterday.

This clears the path for detailed planning and contractor selection to begin, with construction expected to start before the end of this year.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made the announcement at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday, describing the project as more than just roads and bridges.

“It is an investment in our people, our communities, and our shared future,” Mr Rabuka said.

The project, funded through a grant from China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will upgrade about 82 kilometres of rural roads across three corridors in Vanua Levu:

• The Nabouwalu Road in Bua (15km);
• The Natewa West Coast Road in Cakaudrove (32km); and
• The Wailevu West Coast Road also in Cakaudrove (35km).

More than 20 bridges will be rebuilt, and over 160 culverts upgraded.

The works will directly benefit 61 villages, 15 schools, and about 10,000 residents who will gain safer access to healthcare, markets, and Government services.

Chinese Chargé d’Affaires Wang Yuan said the project marked a historic moment in the two countries’ 50-year relationship.

“It will become a warm bond connecting the hearts of the people of our two countries,” Mr Wang said.

Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) chief executive officer Apisai Ketenilagi confirmed the Nabouwalu Road corridor is the furthest along, with detailed design and tendering expected before September 2026 and construction beginning before December 2026, taking 24 to 36 months to complete.

The design was carried out by the Guangxi Communications Design Group, which deployed a team of 60 technical staff after completing on-site surveys late last year.

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