Court reports
Fiji Bus Operators’ Association president Parmod Chand complains about poor road conditions
Road repairs in Vanua Levu will start once rain ceases, says Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) chief executive officer John Hutchinson. He said the FRA prioritised the road network repair based on the degree of damage and the relative impact upon the community.
He further explained that this meant some lesser used roads or lesser populated areas might have to wait a bit longer for crews to tend the roads in their areas. Mr Hutchinson made the statement after Fiji Bus Operators Association president Parmod Chand complained about some of the poor road conditions in Vanua Levu. Mr Chand listed: Nasolo, Nasawana, Nasawani, Daria, Coqea, Batunuvurewai, Namalata, Kiobo, Taganikula, Kilikoso, Siberia and Naduri. “A big group is left without public transport and some children have missed school. The drainage had been very poor and that was why roads were badly affected by the rainy weather. All dry weather kept us going but the test comes when the rainy season comes,” Mr Chand said. Mr Hutchinson said: “The saturated pavement is resulting in boggy sections along these roads.
“It has also come to our attention that logging operation along some of these roads is worsening the road conditions,” he said. “FRA engineers have inspected these roads over the weekend and they would be effecting repairs. “TD04F in December last year and TD09F last week have caused significant damage to the road surface and FRA contractors have continued effecting repairs. “Please note that we will work to reinstate road conditions in areas affected by TD04F and TD09F as soon as the rain ceases and for crossing repairs as soon as the flood waters recede.”