The Fijian Government has today signed a grant agreement of $1.2 million with the Japanese Government for the design of the reconstruction of the Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge to improve the flow of traffic and better accommodate the transport of goods and services from the port throughout the country.
The agreement was signed by the Minister for Infrastructure, Jone Usamate and Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Omura Masahiro.
Usamate says the reconstruction of the Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge will improve the lives of the 90,000 people who use the Suva-Lami corridor on a daily basis and for those people who travel to and from the Western Division through the Queens Road.
He says the general grant is for the design phase which has begun and it will take a few months to be completed.
Usamate says the Fiji Roads Authority will work with the consultants from Japan to design the project and then they will tender for the construction.
He has thanked the Government of Japan for their support on this project.
When questioned by Fijivillage on whether the government has plans to extend the four lanes from the bridge to the Queens Road, Usamate says they do have plans but it will take time for these plans to be executed.
Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Omura Masahiro says they still remember the challenges that were faced by the people when there was a major closure of the bridge in 2016 which resulted in traffic congestion daily and there was no other alternative way for people to go across the Tamavua-i-Wai river.
He says he is confident that this project will further strengthen the friendship between the people and Government of Japan and Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure, Taitusi Vakadravuyaca, Acting CEO of the Fiji Roads Authority, Kamal Prasad and members of the Government of Japan were also present at the event.
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