Waivaka Bridge Reach For Your Future Foundation
Learn how we restored an essential bridge in Waivaka, Fiji
Learn how we restored an essential bridge in Waivaka, Fiji
The Waivaka Pedestrian Suspension Bridge was initially constructed in 1994 but was destroyed by cyclonic flooding that same year. The village council had been unsuccessful in lobbying local government officials to reinstate the bridge since 2004. Reach 4 Your Future Foundation proposed to reinstate the bridge with an educational focus on Work-integrated Learning. RMIT University's Civil Engineering students designed the bridge.
The impact of the new pedestrian bridge on the Waivaka community has been significant. The sick and elderly now have better and quicker access to medical assistance, those who grow crops have better and quicker access to markets, and everyone in Waivaka stands to benefit for many years to come because of the excellence of this design and the quality of the work that has gone into the project.
The project to build the new pedestrian bridge in Waivaka began in 2017, when the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) allocated $275,000 to the project. This funding was supplemented by an additional $46,000 from the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Reach 4 Your Future Foundation, a charity initiated by Ganesh Sen that assists in education and infrastructure projects in Fiji, also contributed to the project.
Once the design was finalized, construction of the bridge began. The construction team faced many challenges due to the remote location of the village and the difficult terrain. However, the team persevered and completed the bridge in early 2021, just in time for the official opening ceremony.
The project to build the new pedestrian bridge in Waivaka began in 2017, when the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) allocated $275,000 to the project. This funding was supplemented by an additional $46,000 from the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Reach 4 Your Future Foundation, a charity initiated by Ganesh Sen that assists in education and infrastructure projects in Fiji, also contributed to the project.
The opening ceremony was a joyous occasion for the people of Waivaka. Representatives from the FRA, the Australian Government, and the Reach 4 Your Future Foundation were present, along with members of the local community. The ceremony included speeches, cultural performances, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the bridge.