$5m bridge for Toga
Repaired link allows for safe travel to school
CHILDREN of Veidrala Village in Ra can now travel to school safely every day, thanks to the rehabilitation
VILLAGERS in the district of Toga, Rewa, will no longer miss work or school during adverse weather conditions.
This follows a groundbreaking ceremony of the $5million Toga bridge that will link the villages of Muana, Vunisei and Navatuyaba.
Up until now, villagers were using an Irish crossing to travel to the other side.
Officiating at the event last Tuesday, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the new bridge would greatly benefit the people of Toga.
“I know that today’s occasion is worth the long wait as we will all witness the commencement of this project today (last Tuesday),” Ro Filipe said.
“Fiji Roads Authority is under my ministerial portfolio and I thank God for this opportunity and His divine will and time for me to officiate this long-awaited project.
“The completion of this project will mean that of a road that connects them to Mataso Primary School.
The road was badly damaged during Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016 and repairs saw vehicles connecting the village crossing over to this side of Toga on a punt during floods will be a thing of the past.”
Ro Filipe said the China Railway First Group would be the nominated contractor responsible for the construction of the new bridge.
“While the Fiji Roads Authority will be monitoring the works to ensure that it is built to standard.
“As an incoming Government, it is our priority that there is reliable road network for all Fijians particularly rural dwellers and those in the maritime community.”
Meanwhile, FRA divisional liaison officer Jese Veibulu said the ground work should begin today.
“It would take us six months to complete the new bridge,” he said.
“The small Irish crossing is quite low and it floods in every second rain.
“So with the construction of the new bridge, we at FRA are doing it so that it withstands the flood.
“The people should benefit from the new bridge economically because many villagers have plantation and makes it easier for them to get across to the other side of the road.” to the main road.
“This is historic as our children no longer have to board at Mataso Primary,” said Veidrala villager Alusio Vumainabuke.
“I had to leave two of my children to study in Lautoka but now I have brought them back to the village as they travel to school every day.
“We have a carrier to transport the kids to school under government’s free transport system.
“Some parts of the road still need to be upgraded and once this is done, buses and bigger vehicles can access the road for commerce purposes.”