Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) will meet with residents, businessowners and landowners in a public consultation at Sinai Hall tonight to discuss concerns regarding the Empire Bridge replacement.

In a statement, ICI confirmed the replacement work and associated road and stream improvements will begin this week. The project will cost $5 million, it said.

Speaking to Cook Islands News yesterday, ICI engineer Kiri Ataera said the contract with Landholdings Ltd, who will undertake the bridge replacement work and associated improvements, is for six months.

But Ataera said this could be longer, dependent on weather and any additional works that may be deemed necessary.

She said both ICI and Landholdings Ltd had been in contact with local business owners that may be affected by access during construction.

Ataera said the bridge is down to a lane after a structural engineer deemed the inland side of the bridge as being in critical condition.

“To ensure public safety and reduce any further damage to the bridge, ICI reduced traffic to a single lane with manual traffic controllers during peak hour traffic.

“ICI are in the process of assessing a structural support system for the damaged portion of the bridge to allow two-way traffic again.

“If it is deemed a safe viable option, the support system should be installed by the end of this week.”

Construction workers from Landholdings Ltd on Saturday demolished part of the Vaka Shed to make way for the upcoming construction work on Empire Bridge.