Work starts next week on strengthening and widening the Kakaho Creek Bridge on State highway 1 (SH1) just north of Hampden in North Otago.
The $1.6M contract for the work has been awarded to Fulton Hogan Limited. Minor works to improve the alignment to the bridge will also be undertaken as part of the job.
Transport Agency Project Team Manager Simon Underwood says the Kakaho Creek Bridge is narrow and being on a curve that can make it challenging to negotiate, especially for truck drivers. As well as a safer bridge, when work is completed it will be able to carry (HPMV) High Productivity Motor Vehicles with loads capped anywhere between 45 tonnes and 58 tonnes.
“Currently, standard truck loads are limited to 44 tonnes, although when operating under a “50 Max” area permit trucks are able to weigh up to 50 tonnes. High Productivity Motor Vehicles enables more freight to be carried on fewer trucks.”
Mr Underwood says because of the constraints of the highway in this location temporary traffic management including a lower speed limit, will be in place throughout this job, and at times, only one controlled traffic lane will be available. Road users should allow extra travel time for their journeys on SH1 between Palmerston and Oamaru.
Work is due for completion by the end of September.
For more information please contact:
Bob Nettleton
Senior Communications Advisor
T: 03 951 3005
M: 021 954 928
bob.nettleton@nzta.govt.nz
