The Tamavua-i-Wai bridge outside Suva which is a major link between the capital city and Lami will be replaced within twelve months.

Fiji Roads Authority Chief Executive Jonathan Moore says out of the several bridges that need repair work around the country, the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge has been identified as one that needs immediate attention.

Moore confirms the necessary work needed to replace the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge has been awarded to an overseas contractor.

“The first few months of the contractors work will be designing the structural support and also getting the bridge constructed because it is being delivered so the first three months there will be a few ground missions to do repairs and then the bridge parts will be arriving probably four five months into the contract and the bridge should be open within 12 months of starting.”

He adds there is currently a weight and lane restriction on the bridge to allow for maintenance work.

“We have realized that we have to get some heavy weight vehicles across the bridge so we have taken steps to have a night time one way system which allows bigger vehicles across. The repair works that we have done recently, we are about to finish those repair works and they are to make sure that the bridge can maintain that level of service until we replace it , within 12 months the bridge will be replaced.”

Meanwhile, the FRA has confirmed that the weight and the lane restriction placed on this bridge in August will remain in place.

This is to ensure safe operation of the bridge.