Queen Elizabeth Drive Closes For Upgrade
FIJI ROADS AUTHORITY
Queen Elizabeth Drive from Cakobau Road junction to the entrance of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs will be temporarily closed for a week for pavement and sealing works from today to August 24.
Members of the public wanting to access to the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Lands Department, and Fiji Revenue and Customs Service including the Fiji Police Academy in Nasova will have to come from Ratu Sukuna Road.
Fiji Roads Authority general manager network operations and maintenance Aram Goes says the road works carried out on Queen Elizabeth Drive includes rehabilitation of the road pavement, new asphalt surface, provision of parking, formalised parking areas in collaboration with the Suva City Council. “In addition we are providing power and access for electricity to the seawall side of the walkway where the Suva City Council has planned to do fairy lighting to provide better illumination of the walkway section here from Cakobau Road and down to the frontage of the Presidents Grounds entrance,” he said.
“It has previously been a dark area; a lot of customers have been complaining. So the outcome of this project will see the smartening up and upgrading of the Central town area in front of the Presidents Grounds, and Albert Park.” Mr Goes also ironed out the scope of work that will be carried out on Queen Elizabeth Drive.
The scope of work is for full rehabilitation of the aged and deteriorated road between Cakobau Road and Ratu Sukuna Road.
This includes costs associated to upgrades of existing storm water lines, subsoil drainage, flushing of existing cesspits and culverts. Due to raised pavement levels for road reconstruction, works are carried out for a new kerb, channel and dish channels on both sides, importing gravel to construct the 150mm additional pavement and stabilisation with cement to a depth of 250mm. The application of a membrane seal followed by 56mm thick asphalt surface, new footpath along the Thurston Gardens and Presidents Grounds to Nasova Road including power supply ducting, new streetlights and provision for garden lighting and decorative fairy lights by Suva City Council on the seaside walkway.
Mr Goes says that FRA has in its future plans the continuation of road improvement works along Queen Elizabeth Drive up to the Laucala Bay Road intersection.