RECOVERY works by the Fiji Roads Authority after the devastation to infrastructure left behind by Severe TC Winston will take time because there are processes in place that need to be followed.

Fiji Roads Authority maintenance works manager Aram Goes said they were into the second phase of permanent repair works, but this process was time consuming because they needed to meet their procurement demands.

“A lot of repairs that have enabled access are quite temporary in nature and vulnerable to ongoing damage and other storm events,” Mr Goes said.

“The process for that will be time consuming because we need to be transparent and demonstrate good value for money so there will be design packages going out to designers in Fiji because we’re not just looking at one designer, we’re putting out a lot of potential contracts out for designers.”

Once a design is confirmed, Mr Goes said, the next step would be to do the physical procurement.

“We expect this to take another 18 months to two years, and in some cases some of the bigger projects like big bridges and jetties will take potentially up to three years to achieve final completion.”