Plea to upgrade crossing
VUNANIU villagers in Serua have been writing to the Government for the past four years, requesting assistance to upgrade an Irish crossing on Vunaniu Rd, according to village headman Ratu Keni Bukarau Ketenilagi.
He said there’s urgent help needed for the provision of nocross signs and tapes to prevent people from crossing the bridge during bad weather.
The crossing is currently under water, and villagers are scared to cross after four lives were lost, including Ratu Keni’s son, in the past five years.
“I closed the road for almost a week now because the bridge was flooded,” Ratu Keni said.
“The pipe that we had connected on the side of the bridge is now damaged because of the strong currents.
“I’ve reported this to the Fiji Roads Authority multiple times, so that they could come and check the crossing and see if they can raise the footpaths, but still nothing.”
Ratu Keni said the crossing has been around since 1970 and no development had been made even after seeking help from the previous government.
“We, as villages, have been doing our small development plans with the bridge but we really need the Government to step up and construct a firm footpath.
“Four people have lost their lives already, including my son, and there is no other way to get to the village except through that crossing. That’s the only bridge connecting the village to the main road.”
Ratu Keni said he was worried for the children, especially when they were being sent home from school during bad weather.
“Hopefully, this Government will be able to heed our plea,” he added.
Ratu Keni said the village has accommodated tourists every year and that he personally helped them cross over with their luggage.
“Tourists would want to visit the village but when the bridge is flooded, I carry their bags to the other side, go back and carry them on my back one by one, just so they can cross safely.
“It might be amusing to the tourists but they don’t understand the dangers of crossing that bridge.”
Meanwhile, villagers of Namaqumaqua in Serua are anxious to travel out to town because road parts have been washed away because of the heavy rainfall this past week.
Mohhamed Imam, 42, who works at Crusoe’s Retreat in
Namaqumaqua, said FRA has been doing work on the culvert but heavy rainfall would wash away the gravel and that’s left a hole in the middle of the crossing.
“Every day for the past week, this place has been flooded,” he said.
“Daytime they come and fix it, but at night time it’s washed away.”
The authority is urging people to stay safe and not attempt to cross or drive through floodwaters.
The Meteorological Service issued heavy rain and strong wind warning on Wednesday after an active trough of low pressure was located west of Fiji.
Four people have lost their lives already,
including my son, and there is no other way to get to
the village except through that crossing. Vunaniu Village headman Ratu Keni Bukarau Ketenilagi