Nafanua Bridge

Customer: Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai Response and Recovery  Contract:  Design & Construct  Location: Eua Island, Tonga

Fast Facts:  New 20m long bridge consisting of two 10m spans built to AS/NZ seismic standards with a 3.5 m wide lane for traffic and a 1m wide footpath will consist of a reinforced pre-cast concrete panel deck supported by custom-welded steel ‘I’ beams, a central pier and two abutments.

The McConnell Dowell team won the tender to replace Nafanua Bridge in late July, after a series of natural disasters damaged the existing bridge on Eua Island.

We are fast-tracking the mobilisation of our team, plant, and resources to the site so that they can start work in the coming months.

The project is being jointly funded by the governments of New Zealand and Tonga under the broader Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai Response and Recovery initiative. It aims to rebuild critical infrastructure following the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Southeast of Tongatapu, Eua Island is the only island with a permanent stream, and historically, it was the only island with a permanent bridge until recently. The Fangumalingi Bridge, also known as Nafanua Bridge (after the local Port), was damaged by flooding and is no longer safe.

A temporary causeway is in place to maintain connections between the Port and the community while the new bridge is constructed.

The new bridge will be 20 metres long, with a reinforced concrete deck supported on driven tubular piles. The team are planning to design & construct the bridge in a short seven-month programme to ensure a robust transport infrastructure is in place as soon as possible.

 Left to right: Tongan Ministry of Infrastructure CEO Lopeti Heimuli, McConnell Dowell General Manager Pacific Islands, Benoit Midol and Tongan Deputy Prime Minister and Eua Island MP Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimaloh after the contract signing in late July.

Ministry of Infrastructure CEO Lopeti Heimuli, McConnell Dowell’s General Manager Pacific Islands, Benoit Midol and 'Eua MP Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi.

Image: New Zealand High Commission.

View of the Nafanua Port with the bridge in the background.