Bridge Down But Not Out

Bridge Down But Not Out

While the eye of Cyclone Winston missed the farming community of Nailaga on Viti Levu, the storm still did significant damage, destroying the Bulalevu Road Bridge cutting off access to the four settlements that it serviced.

Working to replace the Bucalevu broken bridge.

“When the cyclone struck a huge tree fell on top of the bridge and crushed it. For all of us this meant that we no longer had access to the trucks that used to come daily to take our children to school and our produce to market. Our main source of income is farming dalo, cassava and yaqona. What we can carry now we have to do so by horseback,” said Navola farmer, Isaia Vai

Affected are the settlements of Naboro, Nawawa, Navola and Lomaiviti, home to 120 people. The settlements are located nearly 36kms from Korovou towards Rakiraki.

Fulton Hogan Hiways have been working in the area opening roads, clearing drainage “to ensure access to those who have been cut off,” said Wian Cadle, Fulton Hogan Hiways Project Engineer.

He said when the team arrived at Nailaga, we faced a mountain of debris.

“When we cleared to the bridge we had to remove the tree crushing it before we could begin putting in temporary repairs. We did this by using culverts which will act as temporary access to the settlements.”

Fulton Hogan Hiways is working closely with the Fiji Road Authority in cyclone repair in the Central and Northern Divisions.

ENDS

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