Repairs to a pier on the Waitaki Bridges on State Highway (SH82) near Kurow have been completed more than a week ahead of schedule.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says the work was required following scouring around the pier in early November. This scouring resulted in the closure of the bridges for two nights, before the Agency installed floodlighting to monitor the pier so the bridges could stay open at night.
NZTA Canterbury Highways Operations Manager Peter Connors says the repair involved driving four piles and reconnecting the existing pier to the new foundations. This technique was successfully used earlier this year to secure another bridge pier.
“We appreciate the patience of bridge users while this work was carried out, as it did at times cause delays of up to 10 minutes, although most motorists understood the need for these.”
Mr Connors said good weather was a big factor in the job being finished a head of schedule as were the efforts of those working at the site. It is good to have this job wrapped up prior to the start of the busy Christmas-New Year holiday period.
