TDC Lets Contract for Widening of Factory Road Bridge

A $3.1 million contract to widen the Factory Road bridge was let today by the Timaru District Council.

The strategic bridge across the Orari River is extensively used as part of the freight route between the Fonterra’s Clandeboye dairy factory and Temuka.

It will be widened to two lanes relieving congestion and safety concerns associated with the current single-lane 1960 bridge on a route that carries a significant proportion of New Zealand’s total exports.

The present 173-metre long bridge is controlled by traffic lights, resulting in delays and making journey times longer than necessary.

The awarding of the contract to Whitestone Construction Ltd was announced today by Timaru District Council land transport manager Andrew Dixon. It was being financially assisted by NZ Transport Agency which will provide $2.07 million under the Funding Assistance Rate (FAR).

“The project will greatly improve freight efficiency and road safety. The new bridge will also be capable of carrying up to 100-tonne trucks which may be used in the future,” Mr Dixon said.

Up to 1600 vehicles a day travel along Factory Road during the summer months, of which 50 per cent are trucks (heavy vehicles).

Whitestone won the contract from five submitters, meeting stringent structural
considerations while also offering the lowest price. The contract work includes construction of new piles, bridge deck, railings and road approaches formation.

Mr Dixon said construction was expected to start late this month and take 18 months “with periods when certain construction work cannot be performed such as in the river during fish spawning season and during peak traffic times particularly during the spring/summer milking”.

The project will be supervised by Opus Consultants who also oversaw the building of the new bridges across the Waitaki River at Kurow.

ENDS

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