Design and construction of bridges in Fiji

Fiji is one of the smaller developing countries that has managed the development and maintenance of its highway structures with minimal reliance on other countries. Fiji is a collection of approximately 330 islands located 2000 km northeast of New Zealand in the Pacific Ocean. The total land area of the islands is 18 270 sq. km, 110 islands of which are inhabited. The terrain of the country is mountainous and of volcanic origin. It is located in a seismic zone and is subject to extreme hurricanes, floods and tsunamis. The public works department of the Fijian government maintains over 500 road bridges throughout the islands. The geology of the land means that bridge foundations tend to be an expensive component of bridge design and construction. This paper provides an overview of the Public Works Department of Fiji Government since its establishment in the nineteenth century during British colonial rule. It has effectively managed inhouse and locally sourced labour for the design, construction and maintenance of a large number of bridges on widely scattered islands. Exceptions have included the reconstruction of three longer bridges, which in recent years were damaged during hurricane floods. These bridges were tendered internationally because of financial aid regulations and were constructed by overseas companies.