Authority plans to build second bridge on Lami - Suva route

The Fiji Roads Authority is planning to construct a second bridge along the Lami to Suva corridor in the next two years. While plans and securing a contract are yet to be finalised, FRA confirmed that the old bridge would be removed once everything was finalised.

Meanwhile, yesterday the new Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge was opened to traffic.

FRA chief executive officer, Jonathan Moore, said about $19 million was invested into the new bridge. The construction had started in April 2019 to early this year.

“The new Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge project has a design life of 100 years and built with a reinforced concrete deck bridge, precast pre- stressed beams, piled foundations and engineering fill approach roads, located on the seaward side of the existing Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge,” Mr Moore said.

“The new bridge will accommodate two lane traffic and one walkway for pedestrians. The overall length of the bridge is 91.20m and has in six spans arrangement.”

Mr Moore said although the new bridge was weather resilient, motorists should drive within the speed limits.

He said the environmental and climate risks were also incorporated into the construction of the Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge which would provide safeguard access to basic services and reduce vulnerability to climate related issues. “Accounting for these climate impacts on future infrastructure investment will better protect people and the assets, saving taxpayers money,” he said.