Following the successful completion of emergency repair work at Fiu Bridge over the weekend, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) Transport Infrastructure Management Service Division (TIMSD) advises vehicle owners and local businesses in Malaita Province to exercise caution regarding the bridge’s load capacity.
Due to its age and structural integrity, it is strongly recommended that vehicles with a gross weight or payload exceeding 15 tons refrain from crossing the bridge. This also applies to oversized machinery and heavy equipment.
“For such heavy loads, we advise using the wet crossing located approximately 25 meters upstream.”
“Crossing with excessive weight risks causing further damage to the bridge and endangering safety.”
Constructed in the 1960s, Fiu Bridge, linking eight constituencies of Malaita Province to Auki and beyond, now requires careful traversing to ensure safety and longevity.
The bridge was closed last week (26th May) after the incident involving a heavily loaded truck, which resulted in a section of the bridge being broken.
Thanks to urgent repairs carried out by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the bridge was reconnected on Wednesday night (28th May). These repairs focused on the impacted section.
Further work was conducted on Saturday night (31st May) after critical parts were shipped from Honiara—installation of new transom beams and installation support to the longitudinal girders, ensuring the structure’s safety.
“We appreciate the support of the Malaita Provincial Government, Auki Police, and Fiu community leaders. We also commend the public transport service providers along North and East Road for their patience and understanding.”
In the meantime, design for a new bridge has been completed, and, as reflected in the National Transport Plan, the government prioritizes this project and actively engages with development partners to deliver a durable and climate-resilient structure for the country’s most populous province.
– MID press
