About 20% roads restored in the West and North after damages due to heavy rain

About 20 percent of restoration works are complete in the Western and Northern Divisions following the damage sustained on the road infrastructure from the heavy rain, resulting in floods in the last four days.

Fiji Roads Authority Acting Chief Executive Officer Sonal Goundar says several damaged crossings and bridges have been temporarily reinstated and are open for use with some restrictions, however many of these will need permanent repairs to return them to their original level of service.

Goundar says some low-level crossings are designed to be overtopped by river flow during peak floods, however the extreme conditions have caused debris to build up against the crossings, diverting the torrent of water around the ends of the concrete structures and leaving the crossing disconnected from the road and unusable.

He says the FRA team will continue to deploy contractors for remediation works as floodwaters recede.

The CEO adds most of these emergency response works are temporary repairs and they will be carrying out permanent repairs once it is assessed and cost out.

Rashika ***