Solutions sought for Lautoka City Road congestion

Acomprehensive transportation study will be conducted on the road conditions in Lautoka City.

This was confirmed by Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) chief executive officer (CEO) Jonathan Moore while responding to a complaint by Fiji Bus Operators Association spokesperson Pyara Singh.

Mr Singh highlighted how the ongoing traffic problem in Lautoka City was getting out of hand in the mornings and afternoons. “Buses arriving to Lautoka bus station are delayed by 15 to 25minutes from 7.15am to 8.15am and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm in one of the busiest streets in Lautoka. Yasawa Street is where most supermarkets, general stores and members of the public are in such state,” Mr Singh said.

He said shops like Super Foods, Shop n Save, Vinod Patel and other big businesses were affected by the traffic congestion.

Mr Singh has proposed to authorities if Yasawa Street could be converted into a one-way street from its current two-way street state.

He said this caused traffic congestion that could be seen all throughout the city with cars, buses and other vehicles lining up from one end of the city to the other.

“At the intersection and junction many private cars and taxis are causing huge congestion on the roads, we need Police presence at the junctions and intersections in the morning and afternoon to ease traffic flow,” he said.

“The traffic congestion has even caused students late attendance to respective schools in the Lautoka City every morning.

“Because of the traffic congestion problems, school buses and general workers are all late, this is causing a huge economic loss.”

The FRA will look into the matter. “This issue has been recognised by the FRA and Lautoka will be one of the first sites where a full transportation study will be undertaken, where the introduction of roundabouts is a possible solution,” Mr Moore said.

“We need to carry out more appropriate studies in order to be certain. “The same is the case with road widening, where the transportation studies are scheduled to start later in 2018.”