The NZ Transport Agency has finished work to improve flood protection for the Waitaki Bridge on State Highway 1 near Oamaru.
NZ Transport Agency Acting Otago/Southland State Highways Manager Ian Duncan says the work that started last month, will stop a major river channel eroding a river bank just upstream on the northern side of the bridge. Four rock groynes have been built to direct the river flow away from this bank.
“Completing this work addresses the issue of continued erosion of this river bank that was threatening the northern bridge abutment making it more vulnerable to flooding. Initial monitoring of the groynes show they are working as planned and pushing the river current away from the northern side of the bridge and out to the middle of the river.”
Mr Duncan says the work costing $150,000 is part of the NZ Transport Agency’s management of a bridge that is a vital link in the SH1 network.
