Critical concrete repair work is planned for an important State Highway 1 rail overbridge near Manakau from Boxing Day.
Work is due to start on Thursday 26 December and continue through until mid-March next year.
Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says the Manakau North Rail Bridge needs to be repaired.
“While the overbridge is safe to drive over and will remain so while it is being fixed, it does carry, on average, twenty thousand vehicles daily and is a vital infrastructure link. It must be kept in a state of good repair.”
“The overbridge requires concrete repairs, some of which can only be done when no trains are running during the holiday break. The rest of the repairs can be completed when the trains return to service. It is critical we get in and get this job done as quickly as possible,” Ms Hilliard says.
She says the required repairs are significant and will be completed in stages.
“The bridge will have defective concrete removed, reinforcement bars treated, and concrete reinstated. The result will be a stronger, safer bridge,” Ms Hilliard says.
All the repairs will be done under the overbridge, near the rail corridor, however a 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place over the bridge as speeding vehicles can impact the quality of work. This is why there will be barriers either side of the bridge to help drivers to slow down as well as 30km/h hour signs on the bridge.
Ms Hilliard says traffic will be able to continue to use the bridge while the work is underway, and she reminds drivers following the speed limit over the bridge is essential.
“Please follow the lower speed limit and give our crews the conditions they need to do the job. The sooner they finish, the sooner the highway can return to normal,” Ms Hilliard says
Traffic management will be in place 24/7 until the repairs are completed in March. It is expected to cause traffic congestion at the project site, especially during the holiday period.
Drivers must factor this into their travel plans and allow extra time for their journeys when driving between Ōtaki and Levin.
SH1 Manakau north rail bridge.
