Major Labasa infrastructure upgrade moves forward

Labasa’s major infrastructure development plans are progressing, with a second round of consultations held on Friday for the proposed upgrade of the Labasa Town Bridge and the construction of a temporary crossing.

The project is part of the Government of Fiji’s broader investment in transport infrastructure, supported by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank under the Transport Infrastructure Investment Project (TIIP).

The upgrade aims to improve traffic flow in the northern town and strengthen flood resilience.

The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has engaged Beca International Consultants Limited, working alongside Erasito Consultants and PLANIT Pacific Pte Limited, to undertake feasibility studies, environmental and social assessments, and detailed engineering designs.

PLANIT Pacific social safeguards and land acquisition specialist Jacqueline Hughes said the latest consultation shared updates on project progress since July 2022.

“This session summarised the design process, environmental and social safeguards, site investigations, and data collected. We also responded to community feedback and outlined the next steps and indicative timeframes,” Ms Hughes said.

The Labasa bridge upgrade forms part of a larger national programme involving improvements to 40 critical bridges and three maritime structures across Fiji. FRA said many of these structures were in deteriorating condition and vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards.

For Labasa, engineers assessed two possible alignments, including upstream or downstream temporary crossings.

A second round of consultations on the proposed Labasa Town Bridge upgrade and temporary bridge was held at the Labasa Town Council Chambers on February 27, 2026.

Photo: Devisha Prakash

FRA has recommended building a temporary bridge approximately 1.2 kilometres upstream between Nakoratari and Siberia Roads during construction, along with a pedestrian footbridge to maintain safe access and protect utility lines.

The new Labasa Town Bridge will be elevated by about 1.2 metres to improve flood resilience and accommodate future sea‑level rise. Design features include wider lanes, shoulders, and a separated two‑metre-wide footpath on both sides to improve safety for pedestrians.

Environmental assessments are ongoing, including a Fisheries Impact Assessment to determine potential effects on iqoliqoli customary fishing areas.

The detailed design phase is expected to be completed by June 2026, with procurement for construction anticipated to begin at the end of 2026.