A long-running road problem in Uciwai, Nadi, has reached a critical point, with residents saying years of complaints have gone unanswered while dust and potholes continue to affect their health, businesses and daily lives.
Uciwai resident Selema Wati Evans says residents have been raising concerns about the condition of the road for years, but little has been done to address the problem permanently.
Evans says she began raising the issue after purchasing land in the area several years ago and continued to follow up after moving there with her husband and family.
She says the wider Uciwai community had already been complaining about the road for years before her family moved there.
Evans says she recently lodged another complaint with the Fiji Roads Authority and followed the required process by collecting signatures from residents through a petition.
She says she has also received letters of support from community representatives and businesses in the area, highlighting the ongoing concerns over the road.
Evans says the deteriorating condition is particularly concerning for people living close to the roadside, especially school students, because of the amount of dust generated by passing vehicles.
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Evans says Uciwai advisory councillor Mahendra Reddy has also raised concerns about the road and its impact on the community and businesses.
According to Evans, previous work on the road has not provided a lasting solution.
She says potholes have been patched or sections of the road worked on, but residents want the road properly repaired rather than receiving temporary fixes.
Evans is calling for urgent action, saying residents should not have to continue living with the same road conditions after years of complaints.
Questions have been sent to the Fiji Roads Authority. We are awaiting their response.
