Accessibility for the people of Taveuni is expected to improve as work on four key bridges worth a total of $8.8 million has begun.
While officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of four critical bridges, Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau confirms the project is scheduled for completion in November 2026.
The Fiji Roads Authority says located along the main arterial road, the Balili Bridge and Soqulu 1, Soqulu 2 and Soqulu 3 Bridges play a vital role in connecting villages, enabling safe access for school children, facilitating the movement of agricultural produce to markets, and supporting the overall social and economic activity of Taveuni.
They say the four bridges have been identified as critical infrastructure requiring urgent intervention, with their current condition posing challenges to safe and reliable transportation.
Ro Filipe has highlighted the importance of these bridges as essential lifelines for communities across the island.
He says this initiative forms part of the Government’s broader strategic programme to enhance crossing resilience nationwide and aligns with the Fiji National Development Plan 2025–2029, which prioritizes balanced and inclusive development across all regions of the country.
The Minister says the bridge replacements also support the Government’s wider vision of transforming rural and outer-island areas through improved roads, bridges, jetties, and essential services, including water and sanitation.
Ro Filipe says these investments are aimed at empowering communities, strengthening economic opportunities, and ensuring no Fijian is left behind.
He says once completed, the new bridges will provide safer, more reliable, and climate-resilient infrastructure for the people of Taveuni for generations to come.
The Minister says their replacement is aimed at improving safety, reliability, and long-term resilience of the island’s road network.
Ro Filipe thanked the people of Taveuni for their patience and cooperation, and reaffirmed its dedication to delivering infrastructure that supports sustainable development and improved livelihoods across the nation.
