Infographic: RANOBA BAOA
By RANOBA BAOA
The Fiji Roads Authority says it is ‘on track’ in delivering the planned maintenance and renewals programmes for 2013.
Authority chief executive, Neil Cook was quoted in the authority’s most recent newsletter Fiji Roads as outlining the road ahead.
The Authority has over the past year done some very serious upgrades which have recently been felt by those living and travelling to and from the main Central Business Districts in Suva and elsewhere.
Mr Cook explained that the authority’s various multi-million dollar projects spans over a number of years because of its extensiveness and has assured that they will get to all roads gradually.
“We will be getting to every road in Fiji over the next few years, that is the long-term commitment Government has made in establishing the FRA,” Mr Cook said.
“Fiji can expect to see the road network to an appropriate international standard.”
Challenges
“It has been a challenging year as we not only have a very large work programme to deliver, but we also had to set up FRA while at the same time working with a number of new contractors becoming established in Fiji on very long-term projects.”
The multi-year projects are at different stages, from almost complete to just starting while others will need further investment in order to continue to meet outcomes set by Government he explains.
Mr Cook said that outside of the $290 million ‘massive’ capital works programme of large projects in 2013, Maintenance and Renewals Programmes works is also on target and does not stop.
“If at any time you stop investing in your asset and fail to replace parts when due, the condition of your asset will start to deteriorate,” Mr Cook added.
“That is what we have seen happen to Fiji’s roads over the past 15 or 20 years. And that’s what are remedying now.”