Work begins today (3 October) driving the second of the piles for the larger of the two new Waitaki Bridges being built on State Highway 82 between Kurow and Hakataramea.
This bridge, on the Hakataramea side of the river, it is almost twice the length of the first and it is expected to take five months to drive the seven piles, says NZ Transport Agency's Highway Manager Colin Knaggs.
Two new two-lane bridges are being built across the Waitaki River, by the Transport Agency to replace the two ageing 132-year-old, single-lane timber bridges, which have reached the end of their life.
"Piling for the smaller of the two bridges on the Kurow side of the river has been completed and work is well advanced on installing the bridge's crossheads and abutments, structural steel and concrete decking.
"Work on site is progressing to schedule, with both the two new bridges expected to be opened by late 2014."
The new $20.1 million bridges are part of the Transport Agency's $1 billion programme of investment in Canterbury's transport network from 2012 to 2015.
The new bridges are being built immediately downstream from the existing bridges and will provide a secure transport link across the Waitaki River for the Kurow and Hakataramea communities.
