Motorists and businesses on Vanua Levu will have to wait longer for clarity on when repair work will force a temporary closure of the Labasa Bridge, Acting Northern Commissioner Apolosi Lewaqai said on Friday, as authorities continue preparatory work and assessments.
Lewaqai said no final decision has been made on the timing of any closure. The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) is still completing extensive procedural and technical groundwork — including engineering assessments, planning, stakeholder consultations and logistical coordination — that must be finished before a closure date can be confirmed. “The process remains ongoing,” he said, stressing these steps are essential to ensure the repairs are carried out safely and with minimal disruption to the public and businesses in the area.
The Labasa Bridge is a vital link for daily commuters, freight operators and local businesses on Vanua Levu, and any interruption to traffic flow has been a source of public concern. Lewaqai acknowledged the economic and social importance of the route and said authorities are deliberately taking time to evaluate options that will reduce the impact of repair works on people and commerce.
As part of that planning, the FRA has identified temporary bypass sites to reroute traffic during any closure and is conducting detailed safety and suitability assessments. Lewaqai said those alternative arrangements are being tested for effectiveness and safety so that, if implemented, they will maintain traffic flow as much as possible while repair work proceeds.
The acting commissioner said the authorities are also engaging with local stakeholders, including transport operators and businesses, as part of the consultations to ensure proposed measures are practical and to help mitigate disruption. Final approval of the closure timeline and alternative traffic arrangements remains subject to the completion of those assessments and the necessary sign-offs.
Lewaqai indicated further public updates will be provided once approvals and preparations are finalised. For now, residents and operators who rely on the Labasa Bridge are being asked to await the FRA’s technical outcomes rather than expect an imminent closure date. The continued preparatory work reflects authorities’ stated priority to balance urgent infrastructure repair with safety and minimal disruption to Vanua Levu’s communities and economy.
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