Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, announced on Tuesday that emergency teams have been dispatched to address the damage to the Nailawa bridge in Dawasamu, Tailevu, following a flash flood that occurred on Saturday night. The bridge serves as a critical link for several villages, including Delakado, Natadradave, Vorovoro, and Naveilolo, to the main highway.
Tuisawau assured that efforts are underway to implement temporary measures to restore access as quickly as possible. “We are aware of the situation, and emergency teams are currently being mobilised to address it as soon as possible,” he stated. The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is also involved in plans to upgrade outdated infrastructure, including the Nailawa bridge, which is currently facing procurement processes for upgraded box culverts and other strengthening measures.
Residents have expressed deep concerns regarding the bridge’s condition. For years, it has been submerged during heavy rainfall, with villagers pleading for a permanent resolution to the ongoing issue. Recent images shared on social media depict locals navigating waist-deep water to transport goods, children, and school supplies, making it a perilous task.
Filimoni Masivulo, a villager from Naveilolo, shared the ongoing struggle families face each time heavy rain occurs. “We have begged for this bridge to be fixed for so many years, and every time there is heavy rain, it gets covered again,” he lamented. “Yesterday we had to carry our shopping and the children through the water. It is dangerous, but we do not have any other way to reach the highway.”
The hope among the villagers is that the temporary repairs will commence promptly, allowing for safer access and reducing the risks associated with the current situation. As emergency teams work on an immediate solution, there lies a collective optimism that much-needed improvements to the bridge will follow, ensuring a reliable transport link for these communities in the future.
Leave a comment