22 | Bridge improves safety The delivery of the bridge beams to site and lifting onto the structure took about four weeks. T T from page 20 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT This area is low lying and extreme weather events cause frequent flooding. The new bridge is designed not to exacerbate this problem, avoiding any adverse upstream impacts to Kāeo. The bridge is the same height as the previous one. The construction project commenced in November of 2021, and Mel says one of the first activities was working with iwi and ecologists to relocate over 2000 native fish and eel (tuna) species before commencing construction. A number of native skinks, Pupurangi (native snails) were also relocated. The project included a substantial preload on the northern side of the Kāeo River. Preloading is the placement of load (earth and aggregate) on the ground surface prior to construction to compress water from under the earth. “The way that it settled wasn’t as predicted, so we had to slow the loading rates and carefully monitor it to ensure the ground was settled in the correct place, prior to commencing construction.” Temporary staging was built in order to undertake the bridge construction including piling, and headstocks. The bridge is comprised of four spans (sections) three of which are 30-metre long Super T-beams, with five 30-tonne beams across each span. The fourth and final span reached across to the roundabout on the eastern abutment, and that span has nine beams that are 18 metres long. “The delivery of beams to site and lifting onto the structure took about four weeks, after which the concrete was poured on the deck and the asphalt layer was applied, the guard rails and bridge lighting was installed and the roundabout built.” Both lanes were opened on the 24th of February, at which time the old Kāeo bridge was decommissioned, which took around four weeks. “Fulton Hogan, Quality Cut & Core, and Far North Roading all worked on the demolition and completed the project two weeks ahead of time and without any environmental issues over the river, simply because it was so well planned.” A native planting initiative with Kaeo School and Totara North School exemplifies Fulton Hogan’s engagement with the local community throughout the project, says Mel. “Our landscape design included harakeke (flax), karaka, and manuka, and we found a local kaumātua who collects native seeds. We supplied the schools with recycled seedling trays and our carpentry team built each school a shade hut from recycled materials from the site, and in February last year we taught the kids how to look after the seeds and grow seedlings. The first school planted their seedlings next to the bridge early May this year.” Iwi have also made significant contributions throughout the project including raising concerns that the piles of a retaining wall at the mouth of the bridge would damage the roots of nearby pohutukawa trees that held special significance. Fulton Hogan responded with a gabion basket wall to prevent damage. Iwi and Māori artists have also provided cultural artwork on the roundabout, and on 90 metres of concrete barriers behind the roundabout. Privately owned and operated, award winning New Zealand Crane Hire is the longest running mobile crane operator in the Auckland region, dating back to Central Cranes which was established in 1957. Managing Director Will Dobson says the company’s core purpose is to become and remain the leaders in mobile crane hire within New Zealand, through a continued focus on safety reliability and learning. “At New Zealand Crane Hire we focus on making sure we provide the right team with the right training, equipment and preparation for every lift providing surety and safety always. Our belief is that a successful lift, from small private projects to large scale infrastructure construction, doesn’t start at the site. The success is born from hours of preparation back in the depot, where our team of mechanics, engineers, project managers and planners are based. Meticulous planning of every detail for every lift ensures we complete every job no matter the scope; on time, on budget and within our stringent safety demands. That’s what underpins our success as a business.” In both 2022 and 2023 New Zealand Crane Hire was awarded the Training Company of the year, which recognises excellence in training its employees. Although New Zealand Cranes Hire is Auckland based, its leet and Raising the bar at NZ Crane hire personnel travel all over New Zealand, with a focus on the upper North Island including Northland, servicing all industries requiring heavy lift solutions. New Zealand Crane Hire are experts when it comes to delivering e icient and knowledgeable service for heavy lifting jobs. “We o er an extensive and modern leet of cranes for hire, from leading brands including Liebherr, Terex and Grove. Our leet of cranes range from our 13 tonne City cranes up to the largest hydraulic mobile crane available in New Zealand, the 450-tonne capacity Liebherr LTM1450 8.1. Having an average leet age of only six years means we o er unparalleled reliability and the latest technology and safety systems not available in older model cranes.” New Zealand Crane Hire was engaged by the Fulton Hogan’s project team early in the Te Kaeo bridge Upgrade Project to plan the installation of the span 3 bridge beams that cross over the Kaeo river watercourse. “Our Liebherr LTM1450 8.1 was chosen as the optimal crane for these works due to its superior lifting capacity in its class at the radius required for the lifts. Following the successful installation of the span 3 bridge beams, our 250-tonne All Terrain crane was utilised by the project to install the bridge beams for span 4 of the bridge.” www.cranehire.co.nz Fulton Hogan: Te Käeo Bridge Upgrade
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