Nadi Town Adopts Two-Way Traffic Amid Challenges

Nadi Town is experiencing an exciting shift as its main street transitions back to two-way traffic, a change many residents and business owners are enthusiastically welcoming.

However, alongside this positive development, some challenges have emerged that local businesses are eager to address.

The recent conversion to single-lane two-way traffic aims to alleviate congestion and enhance overall accessibility.

Local business owners have expressed optimism about the change, recognising its potential benefits for their livelihoods.

Challenges

Mohammed Azim Khan, a local business owner, noted that while traffic from the Suva side has faced initial challenges, he remains hopeful that the system will normalise soon.

Dineshwar Raju, owner of Raju’s Restaurant, is particularly enthusiastic about the return to two-way streets.

He said that the prior one-way system created obstacles for customers.

“Before, we had no issues with traffic when it was two-way,” he stated, emphasising the need for better management of the increasing number of vehicles on the road,” he said.

Despite the benefits of two-way traffic, some business owners have voiced grievances regarding parking availability in the town.

Many public meter parking spots have been taken over by taxi bases, and almost all available parking meters are being utilised by illegal taxi operators, leaving little space for customers.

This situation has raised concerns among local merchants, who feel that the Nadi Town Council, as the custodian of the town, must address these issues to ensure that businesses can thrive.

Parking issues

Further complicating the parking situation is the garden and sitting area directly on the main street, which has effectively reduced the number of available parking spaces.

While it was meant to beautify the town, the area occupies a significant portion of what could be customer parking which ultimately leads to substantial losses for businesses.

If cars are parked for an average of 20 minutes, the garden area could displace up to 324 cars in just nine hours, representing a critical loss of customer access.

Adding to the positive sentiment, businessman Mubashir Khan highlighted how the return to two-way traffic has improved access for customers.

“It was previously difficult to reach the temple area from Lautoka, but now it’s a straightforward drive,” he explained.

The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is encouraging community feedback on this trial initiative, aiming to refine traffic management and enhance the experience for all road users.

There is optimism that once streetlights were properly configured and awareness of alternative routes increases, traffic distribution will improve further, easing the load on the main street.

As Nadi town embraces this new chapter with two-way traffic, the community is hopeful that the benefits will lead to a more vibrant, accessible, and economically thriving environment.

However, addressing parking challenges will be crucial for ensuring that local businesses can fully capitalise on this positive change.

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