Some residents living in Baulevu, Nausori, are still waiting for the Wainibau Bridge to reopen so they can return to their homes after spending the night in their vehicles while the Fiji Roads Authority carried out repair works on the bridge.
A frustrated resident told fijivillage News this morning that they were unaware the repair works would begin yesterday until they saw a notice on facebook.
She says she had been driving around the area yesterday morning, but when she returned from visiting family in Suva at around 11pm, she found the bridge closed and repair works underway.
She says many residents were stranded overnight because they were also unaware of the bridge closure.
The resident says they had hoped the bridge would reopen by 5am, but as of 9am today, it remained closed.
She also says there is a woman who has been waiting longer from 9 last night with her grandchild.
She says workers on the bridge told her it is expected to reopen at midday because the generator being used was apparently not powerful enough to fasten the bridge's bolts.
Some residents have crossed the bridge by ferry, leaving their vehicles parked along the roadside.
The resident says she is concerned about leaving her vehicle unattended and hopes the bridge will reopen soon so she can retrieve it.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Roads Authority issued a notice on Friday, 31st July, advising of the temporary closure of the Wainibau Bridge along Baulevu Road in Nausori for repair works from Saturday, 1st August, until Saturday, 15th August, weather permitting.
The FRA says access for emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout the repair works, while temporary traffic diversions will be clearly marked and implemented to safely direct motorists and pedestrians through the work zone.
It says commuters travelling through the area should take the closure into account when planning their journeys.
The Authority also says advance bridge closure advisory signs would be installed before the works commenced, and traffic controllers would be on site to direct motorists to the designated bypass route.
fijivillage News has sent questions to the FRA regarding the concerns raised by residents.
They have yet to respond.
