Work to construct the new Atiamuri Bridge on State Highway 1(SH1) will commence this summer reports the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).
The NZTA have awarded the $20.35m contract to HEB Construction Ltd, to design and construct the new bridge and approaches. Works will start this week with contractors initially focused on undertaking site clearance, compound set up and geotechnical investigations.
The new Atiamuri Bridge will be 75 metres upstream from the current bridge, with the entire project site being approximately 2km long says State Highway Waikato Region Manager Kaye Clark.
Kaye Clark says the new bridge will have a wider carriageway which will allow for two 3.5 metre lanes, 1.5 metre shoulder lanes and a shared pedestrian / cycling walkway facility (which does not exist on the current bridge).
A new northbound passing lane will also be constructed as part of the project, which starts at the State Highway 30 (SH30) intersection and concludes at Hatu Patu's Rock.
Kaye Clark says both the northern and southern approaches to the new Atiamuri Bridge will be realigned to remove several low speed curves. This will improve safety for drivers on SH1 and at the intersection to SH30.
Construction is expected to take approximately 19 months and should be completed by May 2013.
The current 50km/hr speed restriction on the existing bridge will remain for the entire project and maybe reduced as needed to allow construction on the new bridge to take place.
The removal of the existing bridge will commence once the new bridge is opened.
