The Tamavua-i-wai bridge reconstruction initiative aims to implement a revolutionary civil engineering approach by constructing Fiji’s inaugural earthquake-resilient bridge, which is anticipated to enhance economic productivity, according to Japanese Ambassador Rokuichiro Michii. He made these remarks during a ceremony to exchange notes on additional financing for the project in conjunction with Public Works and Transportation Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau on Thursday.
Ambassador Michii announced that JP¥ 961 million (approximately $14.47 million) has been allocated for the rebuilding of the two-lane bridge. He added, “The additional funding formalized today will supplement the F$60 million initially committed in 2022, raising the total design and reconstruction cost to nearly F$70 million.”
He also indicated that the exchange of notes being signed represents the fourth or fifth agreement occurring this month and the next, collectively valued at around $129.5 million.
He emphasized the vital role that road and bridge connectivity plays in fostering economic and social development, likening them to the arteries and veins of the nation. Ambassador Michii pointed out that with no alternative land route available over the Tamavua-i-wai River, the completion of this project is crucial for Fiji, significantly impacting trade, national development, tourism, and the overall economy.
Upon completion, the new bridge will enhance the existing structure, transforming it into a four-lane bridge, which is poised to integrate with the proposed future four-lane Suva to Lami motorway.
Minister Ro Filipe acknowledged the occasion as a pivotal milestone for infrastructure development. He mentioned that the notes exchanged regarding the Tamavua-i-wai bridge amendment would amount to F$25 million, or about 3 billion Japanese yen.
He highlighted that road infrastructure is essential for connecting individuals to job markets, goods, and services, noting that roads should be viewed as catalysts for economic growth rather than merely as routes. Ro Filipe underscored the significance of the Tamavua-i-wai bridge as a critical link in the Suva-Lami corridor and expressed concern over the single route into Suva, emphasizing the necessity to consider alternative routes from areas such as Veisari, Wailekutu, or potentially leveraging Delainavesi Road to Wailoku.