Riya Bhagwan 
Potholes on a road in Nadi. Picture: Riya Bhagwan
The government is strengthening oversight of road construction projects to improve the quality and durability of the road network.
Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau says re-establishing the Public Works Department will ensure better monitoring of infrastructure projects.
His comments follow questions about the ministry’s emphasis on durable infrastructure, as repeated damage from heavy rainfall and natural disasters drives up maintenance costs and strains public funds.
To address this, the ministry is introducing independent quality assessments.
Ro Filipe highlights a partnership between the Roads Authority and Australia’s National Transport Research Organisation on a ‘Road Network Improvement Program’ to strengthen network resilience.
The Minister adds that quality monitoring must be conducted by an independent body rather than contractors.
He acknowledges current structural overlaps but says steps are underway to separate monitoring and construction roles.
“At the moment, that role is a bit convoluted or mixed up, but now we are demarcating it as we move forward in terms of roads, and PWD is also assisting with the roads, especially the rural roads, the village roads.”
Ro Filipe says this demarcation will strengthen accountability and improve road standards nationwide.
Furthermore, the ministry is working closely with engineers in the Western Division to address ongoing infrastructure issues, focusing on delivering durable roads that withstand local weather conditions and reduce frequent repairs.
