The safety and wellbeing of families, commuters and businesses remain Government’s highest priority as quality and safety will not be compromised for the sake of speed as urgent works continue on the temporary bypass in Semo.
Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau highlighted this after visiting the site yesterday saying ensuring that communities have safe and reliable access is central to Government’s response following the recent disruption to the main route.
Ro Filipe says every step of the bypass construction is being carefully managed to protect lives, maintain quality standards and restore connectivity as quickly and responsibly as possible.
He also visited the site to assess progress and reaffirm Government’s commitment to public safety.
The Minister also inspected the emergency bypass works and commended engineers, contractors and workers who have been working extended hours despite challenging weather conditions.
He also acknowledged the strong support and cooperation shown by the village of Semo during this period.
Ro Filipe says their teams are doing their very best to complete the bypass within the next few days, however, safety remains their top priority.
While works are progressing well and are expected to be completed in the coming days, Ro Filipe is urging all drivers and commuters to exercise caution when using the temporary access road and to strictly follow traffic advisories.
He says recent delays were largely due to adverse weather conditions affecting ground stability, but additional resources have now been mobilized to keep the project on track.
The Minister says they acknowledge the patience and understanding of the public and surrounding communities.
He adds immediate response efforts such as the Semo bypass project reflect a clear commitment to resilient, accessible infrastructure — with people’s safety always at the centre of every decision.
