From Wednesday, sections of road adjacent to the under-construction Vaisigano bridge will be closed to the public for three months.

The Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) informed the public on Friday of their plans to minimise construction-related disruption. 

"The Authority wishes to inform the traveling public that sections of roads near the Vaisigano Bridge construction site will be closed for three months; from 15th January 2020 until the 31st March 2020," a notice from the L.T.A. said

"This closure is necessary for the completion of the project. We kindly ask all motorists to drive safely within the vicinity and follow the traffic management on site."

The $44 million Vaisigano Bridge construction site is currently on track to open in July, said the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure's (M.W.T.I.) Assistant C.E.O., Saugaga Leilani Galuvao.

The construction project is funded by a grant from the Government of Japan.

In an interview late last year, the Authority's C.E.O., Galumalemana Ta’atialeoitiiti Tutuvanu-Schwalger, said the project was on schedule and updates on its progress would be regularly provided online. 

A Japanese firm, Konoike Company Ltd., is overseeing the work on the new bridge, which will be purpose-made for extreme weather conditions such as cyclones.  

One indication of the progress of construction was erected last month: the first road sign signalling the existence of the two-lane road to motorists.  

The new sign will in future point motorists from the bridge to popular tourist attractions on the island. 

When completed, the bridge will span 75 metres in length and include two lanes, footpaths and street lighting; the project includes a renovated roundabout at Matautu.