Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work gets underway onsite next week to prepare for the replacement of the 48-year-old Onetai Stream Bridge north of Paeroa on State Highway 26. A wider, stronger bridge will make this route on the eastern side of the Waihou River safer and more resilient.
Road users on SH26 between Paeroa and Kōpū will see NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) contractors on site from Tuesday 28 January to begin work. There will be lane closures for the first 2 weeks, and then a full road closure for up to 4 weeks from Monday 10 February.
Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery (Acting), Darryl Coalter, says NZTA appreciates the closure will be disruptive.
“Onetai is a small bridge, and the road approaches are very narrow. Unfortunately, it is not practical to replace the bridge in stages, so the highway will need to be closed here while the old bridge is demolished, and its replacement is installed.
“Replacing bridges is always tricky and invariably involves some road closures, to ensure the work is done safely and efficiently – and within the available funding.
“In this location it isn’t possible to provide alternative access and we recognise the impact this closure will have on road users – particularly those from local communities, however it is vital that we do this work to ensure the resilience of this route by replacing this bridge which is at the end of its economic life,” Mr Coalter says.
The detour route will be via State Highway 2, Hauraki Road and State Highway 25 for northbound traffic and the reverse for southbound traffic (map below). The detour will not add duration to the trip for those travelling from Paeroa and Kōpu – however for those travelling from nearer to the closure site, for example between Hikutaia and Kōpū – a 12 minute trip will become 35 minutes.
“The project team considered a range of construction options and has developed an approach to get the work done as quickly as possible, using prefabricated bridge deck and other key components to speed construction,” Mr Coalter says.
The existing bridge was designed and constructed in 1976. Its 2025 replacement will be 3m wider giving drivers more lane space, and with additional safety features including a new type of side barrier (see graphic below). Although bridges in New Zealand are generally built with concrete, this bridge will be built with a timber deck and bridge beams. Timber deck bridges are built successfully overseas and we are now piloting this approach in New Zealand.
NZTA thanks road users and especially the local community for their consideration while we do this work.
It’s advisable for road users to plan ahead using the NZTA Journey Planner.
Journey Planner(external link)
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