Head of Higgins Happy with S3
The Kings Road project is great example of the high level of workmanship by Higgins Fiji.
Higgins general manager, Ken Lotu-Iiga says he’s very happy with the progress of all the company’s work in Fiji, especially the S3 Project which is progressing well with the opening of two new lanes to traffic. The head of Higgins said: “Every time I come over to see what our Fijian teams have been up to I am impressed with their skills and enthusiasm for the job. “We make sure we train our people to do top quality work and they consistently manage to deliver excellent outcomes for our company and the local community.”
Mr Lotu-Iiga says he always enjoys his visits to Fiji which enable him to keep a finger on the pulse of what is going on and also experience the friendly people and beautiful scenery. But he says the main aim is always to consult with local authorities and check on the works in progress from local Higgins crews, such as the current S3 Project.
About the project
S3 Project manager, James Walsh, says the project is about halfway through and on completion drivers can look forward to a much improved ride.
He says the kilometre of double lanes which have been sealed with asphalt so far will give drivers a taste of how the finished product will be.
“For a start there will be four lanes of smooth asphalt rather than the two old narrow ones that existed before, which were frequently clogged with delays and congestion.
“But also there will be less wear and tear on people’s vehicles and, importantly, new bus bays allowing buses to pull off the road to collect and drop off passengers safely, while traffic behind can continue to move through.
“Basically it will be a smoother, safer and a more pleasant journey for all.”
The project is due for completion around the end of June, with the team currently involved in much of the heavy grunt work including excavation of the second half of the carriageway and installation of a large culvert for the main storm water system.
The culvert will play a vital part in increasing volume capacity for the water to flow through, which will lead to less flooding and environmental damage in the area.
Solid pace
Mr Walsh says he is proud of the work his Higgins crew are putting in to keep the project on time and moving ahead at a solid pace.
“Our team have been working exceptionally well day and night to get the project done as soon as possible.
“The high quality of their work is already apparent and we will continue to work hard to get the road open for the community as soon as possible.”
And he says the community itself has played a part in the good progress so far achieved.
“The majority of motorists coming through have been patient and good natured which really helps us.
“We really appreciate people driving through the works slowly and carefully and we get a lot of waves and smiles which brightens the day of our team who are out there in the heat giving it their best.”