We have to stretch the dollar as a lot of roads need fixing – Prasad

Fiji Roads Authority’s Acting CEO, Kamal Prasad has revealed they have to stretch the dollar and with so many potholes everywhere and a lot of roads needing re-construction, their prime focus is to improve the conditions of as many roads as possible but with a different method where they are spending less.

Prasad confirms they spent $160 per square metre for the re-construction of Edinburgh Drive in Suva two and a half years ago but are now spending less than $25 per square metre for major road works.

He admits resources are limited in the COVID-19 era and there are so many roads to be fixed.

According to Prasad, as they are now spending much less per square metre, the method of road re-construction has also changed and are now doing flexible pavement on roads which does not involve procedures and materials that were used for re-constructing Edinburgh Drive a few years ago.

Prasad says the seal they are applying now will last for three years while the pavement will last them about 8 to 10 years because they are now spending less money.

He says after these road works finish, their focus will be proactive maintenance of roads which should fix the issue of pot holes and bad roads in the future.

He adds contractors are working on high volume roads and the speed they are going at, there will be some defects.

Prasad says they had already anticipated 5 percent defects in the road works. Ratu Sukuna Road, Karsanji Street and Nokonoko Road are some of the roads that had defects after major road works recently.

FRA’s CEO further says if people want more quality road works, then they will have to close the roads for 24 hours after they do a prime coat and later slow the traffic after next coat of seal, but they do not want to do this as they want motorists to use the roads.

He says if the people want them to get it right in their first attempt, then the FRA will have to pay four times more than what they are paying now for road works.