| 45 T T Hugh de Lacy Third iteration of vital Kakanui link The single-lane replacement bridge is under construction – the six pier caps have been placed, and the project is scheduled for completion in the first half of next year. Waitaki District Council INFRASTRUCTURE After 126 years of service, the second Kakanui River Bridge is making way for a third structure that will serve the Waitaki District Council and its community for generations to come. The single-lane replacement bridge is under construction – the six pier caps have been placed, and the project is scheduled for completion in the first half of next year. “The bridge has always been a vital connection to the Kakanui community, which straddles the river, with the north side hosting the shop, petrol station, post office, rural fire service, restaurant/takeaway, community hall and residential areas, all along with the most direct route to Oamaru,” says Waitaki District Council project manager, Mike Harrison. “On the south side are the school, camping ground, beach, public toilets, and most of the residential buildings. The school bus uses the bridge daily, and the farming community depends on it for access. Without it, travelling between Kakanui South and Kakanui North would mean a 21-minute (15.2 km) detour instead of a usual three-minute (1.7 km) one. “It’s taken 20 years of planning, but the 1899 timber bridge with its 16 spans is giving way to a modern concrete structure of seven spans,” Mike says. Built to the latest design standards, the new bridge will do away with the current weight and speed restrictions, while providing both a wider traffic lane and a dedicated pedestrian/ cycle access-way. The bridge’s deck will sit up to three metres higher than that of the existing bridge, giving it 1.2m of freeboard above the ultimate flood level, and thereby ensuring greater resilience against future events. Concrete Structures NZ Ltd is leading the construction at pace, with the target of getting it completed and commissioned by next May. Not that its construction is getting in the way of the normal run of events of the local community. During the whitebaiting season, the project’s work programme was managed to minimise its effects on both the environment and community life, and whitebaiters were able to access the river and mouth, and pursue the delicacy uninterrupted. The new bridge is costing $11.06 million, which is funded 57% by the NZ Transport Authority and 43% by the Waitaki District Council. The decision to retain the single-lane structure was made after it was estimated that a two-lane bridge would have added $3m to the price tag, all of which would have had to be funded by ratepayers. Meanwhile, planning is underway for the final chapter of the existing bridge’s service life. The 1899 timber bridge will be deconstructed, with a strong emphasis being put on waste minimisation and recycling. Valuable hardwood timbers will be recovered and repurposed to offset costs while ensuring the historic structure continues to provide value in a new form. The first bridge over the Kakanui River was built in 1871, and replaced with the hardwood version in 1899. “From preserving community connections to building a resilient future, the Kakanui Bridge replacement project is delivering on both heritage and progress,” Mike says. for our people and communities Creating a legacy www.whitestone.co.nz 0800 109 101 | info@whitestone.co.nz
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