The Tamavua-i-wai bridge reconstruction project will introduce a civil engineering concept by building Fiji’s first earthquake-resilient bridge or structure that will boost economic output, says Japanese Ambassador Rokuichiro Michii.
He made the statement at an exchange of notes ceremony for additional funding for the project alongside Public Works and Transportation Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau on Thursday.
Mr Michii said JP¥ 961million ($ 14.47m) had been set aside for the reconstruction of the two-lane bridge.
“The additional funding being formalised today will complement the $F60 initially signed in 2022, expanding the total cost of design and reconstruction to approximately $F70m,” he said.
“It is my pleasure to inform you that today’s signing of the exchange of notes is the fourth or fifth that will be signed and formalised during the course of this month and next month, which will be collectively worth approximately $129.5m.
“Connectivity by roads and bridges has played an integral part in economic and social prosperity. Roads and bridges are like the arteries and veins functioning as the lifeline of the nation.
“As there is no alternative land route across the Tamavua-i wai River, the completion of this project is one of the most critical infrastructure developments to be undertaken in Fiji given the significance of the Tamavua-i-wai bridge to trade, national development, tourism and the economy as a whole.”
He said once the project is completed, the new bridge would complement the existing bridge, making it a four-lane structure, ready to feed into a possible four-lane Suva to Lami motorway in the future.
In his address, Ro Filpe said the event was a significant milestone in terms of infrastructure development.
“My understanding is this exchange of notes in terms of the amendment for the Tamavua-i-wai bridge would be $F25,000,000, about 3 billion Japanese yen,” he said.
“Road infrastructure serves as a crucial link connecting people to employment markets, goods, and services and in terms of investment and roads should not be looked at as only roads but an impetus or facilitator of economic growth.”
Ro Filipe said the Tamavua-i-wai bridge was a critical linkage for the Suva-Lami corridor.
He said he was particularly concerned with the fact that there was only one route into Suva, and this underscored the need to plan for alternative routes into Suva possibly from Veisari, Wailekutu or even utilising the Delainavesi Rd to Wailoku.
