30 May 2014

Final stage of construction underway for last Waitaki bridge

With this week’s final pour of the concrete deck for the second of the new bridges being built over the Waitaki River at Kurow, the final stages of its construction are now underway.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Highway Manager Colin Knaggs says work is progressing on the installation of the guard rails and hand rails and construction of the new approaches.

“If we can get some good weather next week, it is hoped to have the approaches sealed before next weekend’s opening.

“Some work will remain to widen the approaches and extend the guard rail once the old timber bridge has been deconstructed in the next few months.”

The Transport Agency is building two new two-lane bridges on State Highway 82 at a cost of $20.1 million to replace two ageing single-lane timber bridges which were opened in 1881. The bridges are part of the Transport Agency’s $1 billion programme of investment in Canterbury’s transport network from 2012 t0 2015.

Mr Knaggs says details for the opening of last of the two bridges, on the Hakataramea side of the river, have been finalised and a large crowd is expected to attend next Saturday’s (7 June) event.

“The community have very much been involved in planning this event and we are expecting large numbers to celebrate this significant milestone for the district.

“Completion of these two bridges provides the Kurow and Hakataramea communities with a secure road link, one which has existed for more than 133 years and which is critical for the economic growth of the region,” he says.

The bridge will be opened at 12.30pm by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean.

For more information please visit www.nzta.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media