Formation of the new Reids Canal Bridge on State Highway 2 near Edgecumbe reached another milestone last week with the first eight support structure beams being installed.
The first of eight of a total of twenty four 25 tonne beams was installed to form the central span of the new bridge which is what the road will be built on to carry traffic, says NZTA State Highway Bay of Plenty Manager, Brett Gliddon.
The new bridge is made up of three spans with eight beams in each totalling approximately 65metres in length.
The new Reids Canal Bridge is up to three times longer in length and two metres higher than the old bridge.
The old bridge has already been removed to make way for the new bridge; the old bridge was cut into pieces using concrete saws and crushed to separate the steel reinforcement from the concrete and then recycled onsite, says Mr Gliddon.
Mr Gliddon says the next phase of the project, which is due to be completed in March 2012, will focus on completing the east and west structure of the bridge as well as finishing off the installation of the other two span beams so that the concrete deck can be poured.
