The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $199.5 million project aimed at upgrading critical bridges on Fiji's main island to improve domestic transport connectivity, as per its statement on Thursday. The Critical Bridges Resilience Project is funded by a $120 million concessional loan from ADB and a $14.5 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The Government of Fiji is contributing $15 million in counterpart financing. Additionally, the World Bank is expected to provide a $50 million loan as part of a co-financing arrangement. "The construction of the four bridges in Lami, Medraukutu, Sabeto, and Viseisei will transform domestic connectivity providing better linkages to markets, schools, and health services," said Aaron Batten, ADB's Pacific Subregional Office Regional Director. Fiji's transport infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, is vulnerable to disasters and climate change. This necessitates substantial investment to enhance the country's resilience. The project will build four climate-resilient bridges with improved road safety features and sidewalks. It will also strengthen the Fiji Roads Authority's asset management and gender-responsive policies and investments. ADF's grant will fund part of the construction cost of the bridges, including the incremental costs of the resilience of the bridges to disasters, especially earthquakes and liquefaction. It will also go for preparing an upstream, transport sector-wise multi-hazard social and gender vulnerability assessment and investment road map. Attribution: The Asian Development Bank statement Subediting: Y.Yasser
