An accelerated work programme is about to start at the new Kawarau Falls Bridge in Frankton, Queenstown, to get both lanes of the new State Highway 6 bridge open in May. Currently just one lane of the bridge is open to traffic.
NZ Transport Agency Senior Project Manager Phil Dowsett says work includes finishing a pedestrian and cycling underpass and fitting new water pipes under the bridge to cater for the large growth in developments south of Queenstown.
'For most of the first three weeks of this five-week programme construction crews will be on site 24 hours, Monday to Friday. From Tuesday, 20 February the day shift runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday. From Thursday 22 February a night shift will operate from 6:00pm to 6:00am, Monday to Friday.'
Mr Dowsett says through careful planning, noisier work will be done during the day, and quieter carpentry and steel reinforcement work in the evening. 'mall machinery and light towers are essential to safely carry out the night work and we apologise in advance for any disturbance these may cause to residents.'
Work on the 140 metre-long rock retaining wall on the southern river bank is completed. Mr Dowsett says about 665 cubic metres of rock is being packed by hand into the nearly 800 steel gabion baskets needed to form the wall. The steel mesh blends into the rock from a distance, forming an attractive rock feature wall between the highway and river he said.
For background on this project, check the project pages: nzta.govt.nz/projects/new-two-lane-kawarau-falls-bridge-project/(external link)
