FRA says there are no Traffic Police controlling traffic during peak hours as they are carrying out live traffic analysis

People are raising serious concerns about huge traffic jams along the Suva-Nausori corridor in the morning due to Police not controlling traffic any more.

Frustrated road users are saying more time is being spent in traffic as there are no Police officers controlling the flow in the mornings, and this is resulting in people turning up late to work and students arriving late at school.

They also say they should have been informed of any surveys being done.

One driver said it has taken him 1 hour from 6.30am to move from Nakasi to Laqere Bridge this morning.

They say they had contacted the Fiji Police Force Command Centre and were informed that Police would not be on the road this morning as FRA is conducting a survey.

When contacted Police referred all questions to the FRA.

The Fiji Roads Authority confirms they are carrying out live traffic analysis and they say not having the Police to control major intersections during peak hours gives them much better data.

FRA CEO, Kamal Prasad says they have been conducting live traffic analysis since 7th March in the Suva - Nausori corridor to establish a base line data for future congestion and capacity improvements which will conclude tomorrow. Prasad says the main purpose of this exercise is to gather real time data on the time taken for private vehicles to reach certain landmarks such as traffic lights, settlements, roundabouts and intersections along Kings Road and Princes Road during peak hour traffic.

He says not having the Police to control major intersections gives them much better data on queue lengths and driver behaviour at these intersections.

The CEO says for example after the vehicle counting exercise, which will be conducted next month, they will be able to determine from models the optimized algorithms for traffic lights operations, locations to install overpass, locations for installing cameras to deter drivers from blocking intersections.

He further says these improvements may negate the need for Police to marshal peak hour traffic.

Prasad adds there are other outcomes they are looking for such as known travel time during peak periods, efficient and effective conveyance.