Access to several communities in Rakiraki has been significantly hampered following an accident involving a Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) vehicle on a local bridge earlier today. Residents from the areas of Colasi, Mullau, and Dugavatu are unable to access the main road due to the incident.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that a wooden plank from the bridge became lodged beneath the vehicle, leading to damage to its drive shaft and the dislodgement of multiple wooden slabs from the bridge. This has raised serious safety concerns, prompting officials to close the bridge to all traffic and effectively isolating the nearby settlements.
Local residents have voiced their frustration regarding the bridge’s deteriorating condition, emphasizing that their concerns had gone unaddressed for too long. One community member remarked on the precarious state of the bridge, saying, “The wooden planks are loose, and it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.”
With schools set to reopen tomorrow, local authorities are expected to conduct an inspection of the bridge to assess the damage and explore possible temporary repairs or alternative access routes. Community members remain hopeful that the incident will lead to urgent and permanent improvements to the bridge’s safety and accessibility, addressing a longstanding issue that has affected their daily lives.