IT was in June 12, 1937 that the first bridge linking Suva and Nausori was officially opened by the former Governor of Fiji Sir Arthur Richards.
The old Rewa River bridge holds bittersweet memories for many Fijians living in the Central Division with its official launch in 1937 igniting development for the small town.
The bridge not only holds good memories it also holds dreadful ones for families who have lost their loved ones in the Rewa River.
The discussions to construct a bridge at the site had been on-going for more than 20 years until December 1925 when the late Alport Barker (later Sir Alport Barker a member of the Legislative Council for the Southern Division) moved in the council meeting that consideration should be given by government about the erecting of a bridge over the Rewa River or in the vicinity of Nausori to help in the increase in vehicular traffic.
According to the National Archives of Fiji the motion was accepted by the Government and the Commissioner of Works authorised to investigate and prepare an estimate for the building of the bridge. By the early 1930s the designs for the bridge was completed by Rendel, Palmer and Tritton of London.
The structural work of the bridge was completed on May 6, 1937 because it was necessary to allow time for the concrete to mature which was the reason behind the bridge opening a month later after completion.
According to the National Archives, the total cost of the bridge was approximately 89,250 pounds of which 83,250 pounds were provided from loan funds and the balance of 6000 pound from revenue.
Before the construction of the old Rewa Bridge the only method of crossing was on a coconut log, row boats and later boats with motors.
Now the 80-year-old bridge has been permanently closed on June 30, 2017 after the Fiji Roads Authority said the condition of the old bridge was incompatible with any public use including pedestrian access.
The authority instructed pedestrians to use the new Rewa Bridge as they barricaded the old one. Fiji Roads Authority CEO Robert Sen said the old bridge was closed to traffic since August 2006 when the new one was opened.
Mr Sen said the authority was considering options to demolish the existing structure because the deterioration was a risk to the public and could partially collapse without warning.
“The sidewalks of the old Rewa Bridge at both ends have been closed with a signage advising the public that the walkway is closed to all pedestrians,” Mr Sen said.
“We have also actively advised all our stakeholders of this decision including the police, Nausori Town Council, commissioner’s office and principals of nearby schools. This was also followed by media releases and public advisories.
Princes Rd resident Inise Lesu, 23, a supermarket worker in Nausori Town said this week her family had been renting close to Dilkusha Girls Home since she was in high school.
She had often used the old bridge as a student and up until recently when she joined the workforce.
“The old bridge was safe to use because it had proper pedestrian walkways and the big steel frames acted as a partition and protected people from moving traffic . The new bridge is not safe, because it doesn’t have proper safety railings towards the bridge’s road sides.”
She says an accident could happen if children played push or shove on the bridge as they could easily land onto moving traffic. “Cars run fast on the new bridge unlike the old one because it has two lanes on each side,” she said.
Nausori resident Marika Bainivalu said the old bridge had served its purpose well, but needed to be closed because of safety reasons.
“It was the first big monument we had here before the new bridge was constructed and it still holds wonderful memories for many people, but it’s time to move on and accept new developments,” he said.
Mr Sen said the FRA will soon install a pedestrian fence on the new bridge to support the raised walkway platform. This fence will provide a secondary barrier between pedestrians and vehicles.
The fence on the new Rewa Bridge will not be completed before the old bridge is closed and therefore the Fiji Roads Authority is counting on the support of parents and school teachers to supervise the large number of school children who will use the new bridge.
