Serious concerns are now being raised on how the authorities are ensuring that overloaded trucks are not going on the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge.
Fijivillage has video footage and photos of large container trucks and other big trucks carrying materials past the bridge towards Lami this morning.
This is a major issue as there is a crack in one of the beams of the Tamavua-I Wai-Bridge on Queens Highway, which is the only entry and exit point for thousands of people coming from the Lami end into Suva and going out of Suva on the highway.
We have raised the issue with the Fiji Roads Authority.
The FRA said they are hoping that people will follow the legal weight requirements for vehicles.
FRA said the monitoring and enforcement is expected to be carried out by the Land Transport Authority.
Fijivillage has established that there is no checking of the weight for loaded vehicles from the Suva end of the bridge.
The only weighbridge is currently located outside the LTA office in Lami.
We have raised this issue with FRA, and they are looking into it.
FRA said they only have the one lane restriction and they are hoping that drivers will follow the legal weight requirements.
The lane that is closed for now is unsafe and the lane that is open at the moment is safe as long as overloaded trucks do not go over the bridge.
FRA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rory Garland will comment further later this afternoon.
However he has already stated that they have taken this step as this is necessary.
Garland has already raised concern about the overloaded vehicles.
He said they know that more than 50 percent of the trucks checked by LTA are overloaded.
Garland said in the medium term, they have to construct a new bridge.
The Tamavua-i-Wai bridge was constructed in 1975.
We are still trying to speak to LTA’s Chief Executive Officer, Naisa Tuinaceva to check on the monitoring of overloaded trucks.
Meanwhile thousands of workers and students arrived late to work and school this morning due to the one lane restriction.
Some motorists we spoke to say it took them one hour to get from central Lami area to the city.
Others travelling from Pacific Harbour say that it took them more than 1 and half hour from Kalekana to the bridge.
Garland is calling for patience as they have to carry out the repairs for the safety of the travelling public.
He said the design and repair will take upto a week.
Garland said to reduce traffic, people are being asked to use buses.
Fijivillage witnessed a number of workers and students trying to make their way to Walu Bay at about 9.45 this morning.
Some students were also seen walking to Walu Bay after 9am today due to the huge traffic jam.
Stay with us as we will have more later this afternoon.
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