The Tamavua i Wai Bridge in Lami outside Suva will be replaced by second quarter next year.

Fiji Roads Authority Chief Executive Jonathan Moore says they are on track to replace the bridge which is one of the major link between Suva and Lami.

We had meetings with the design teams and the contractors going to progress with their work and we are also meeting with JICA who are doing the second bridge in Tamavua, everything is being coordinated. We are still on track for replacement of Tamavua Bridge by this time next year.

Meanwhile Moore says they are also in the process of replacing the Vesidrua Bridge.

The single-lane wooden bridge is the only access linking people traveling to and from Labasa, Savusavu and Nabouwalu in Vanua Levu.

He says latest inspection has indicated that there is deterioration of the Vesidrua Bridge.

So the contractors are working to put in a temporary bridge in there and once it is done than we can close the existing bridge and then take it down and the replacement of that bridge we looking at probably this time next year.

The Land Transport Authority is also monitoring the Vesidrua Bridge and continuing the enforcement of the weight restriction of 18 tonnes.

Meanwhile, FRA had earlier revealed that lifespan of bridges has dropped from 80-years to 43-years.

Moore says a study was carried out which has pointed out that all this has been caused by over loading on our roads.