Vaisigano Bridge

Japanese funded Vaisigano Bridge opens today in Samoa

Land Transport Authority Chief Executive Officer, Galumalemana Ta’atialeoitiiti Tutuvanu Schwalger warns that drivers should note that heavy trucks are not allowed on the new bridge for now.

The new bridge is still a 2-lane as was the previous one, but is much wider with safer footpaths for pedestrians.

Schwalger said the construction of the bridge has taken a little over two years to complete since the plan was first drawn up.

She said several local companies participated in the construction works.

Vaisigano Bridge to open in July

However, to ease up traffic congestion, one lane going into Apia through the old bridge is now open and since last Friday morning people travelling from Moataa can go directly to the wharf via the roundabout at the Vaisigano bridge and vice versa.

“We are targeting to open the new bridge and the new road at Vaisigano for public use by June or July,” Lands Transport Authority CEO, Galumalemana Ta'atialeoitiiti Tutuvanu-Schwalger told the Savali Newspaper.

“Once the new road network and bridge is commissioned, demolition of the old Vaisigano Bridge will start,” she added.

Samoa to begin building new Vaisigano Bridge next month

The Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the bridge had long been a vital part of the road network on Upolu connecting Apia and the industrial area to the west to Samoa's only commercial port - the Matautu wharf.

He said it was first constructed as a seven-span, steel bridge and was later replaced in 1953 with a concrete bridge, which is starting to deteriorate while natural disasters had weakened it.

A technical assessment after Cyclone Evan recommended the Vaisigano bridge had to be replaced.