THE only bailey bridge at Fiu river, Central Kwarae’a, Malaita Province which provides a crucial link connecting the northern and eastern regions of the province to Auki, had been cut off.
The came after a heavily loaded dump truck carrying gravel owned by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) damaged the bridge while crossing the old bridge.
The damage had disrupted travel and movements of hundreds of vehicles, commuters, residents, particularly farmers and business people.
Due to the excessive weight of the dump truck it caused significant structural damage, rendering the bridge impassable.
As a result, vehicles are unable to cross the river, forcing travellers and farmers to disembark on one side, carry their goods across the damaged section on foot, and then boarded another vehicle on the opposite side to reach Auki.
This disruption has placed an additional financial and physical burden on rural villagers, especially those transporting market produce.
A visit by the Solomon Star yesterday confirmed that major parts of the bridge were severely damaged, making it unsafe for any vehicle to use.
In an interview, local farmer and vendor Clera Liu expressed frustration and concern over the situation.
“It’s really challenging. I have to carry all my produce across the bridge just to catch another vehicle to reach the Auki market,” Mrs Liu said.
“It’s a serious problem for us.”
Malaita Provincial Assembly member for Ward 6, Mike Selega, who was amongst those stranded on the northern side, described the impact as significant.
“This bridge is vital. It connects the northern and eastern regions to Auki town. Now that it’s broken, villagers face major challenges in transporting their produce and travelling for essential services,” Mr Selega said.
He called on the national government to urgently work with the Malaita Provincial Government and relevant ministries to restore access and begin reconstruction work.
The dump truck has been removed and it remains unclear when the bridge will be fixed.
The Fiu bridge had already been earmarked for reconstruction under the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP), a World Bank-funded initiative.
However, the project has faced multiple delays due to political and diplomatic tensions between the Malaita Provincial Government and the national government.
Residents are now urging swift action to restore this vital infrastructure before further economic and social disruptions occur.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
