Complex Repairs

Repairs to a landslip at the base of Renalls Bridge’s piles (below left) have involved placing Enkamat over 100 mm of topsoil before grass seeding on the true left abutment. This protection will prevent future erosion around the bridge’s abutments and reduce the possibility of bridge failure.

Cyclone Gabrielle caused significant scour to the true right bank beneath Pōrangahau Stream Bridge and fallen trees (below left). The damage has been successfully repaired by contractors Tūpore Infrastructure, who have placed Enkamat over 100 mm of topsoil and then grass seeded on the bridge’s true right abutment, reinstated block work on the true left abutment and cleared trees upstream of the bridge (below right). 

UPDATE: 19 April 2024

UPDATE: 5 April 2024

UPDATE: 28 March 2024

The temporary pier has been installed and is taking the load of the bridge while the existing pier has been demolished and permanent piles are now being installed. There will be a pause in construction while the crew waits for the pier head to be pre-casted.

UPDATE: March 2024 

Great progress is being made on repairs to cyclone-damaged Douglas Cutting Bridge on Wakarara Road in Tikokino.

Contractor Emmetts reached a milestone in the bridge’s extension last week when they installed the temporary bridge bracing, in preparation for removing the existing piers in the coming days. Construction is on track to be completed by the end of June.

As one of the more severely impacted sites in our district where the whole abutment on the bridge’s left bank was taken out by Cyclone Gabrielle last February, it is great to see the significant planning, investigation and design work come together to restore this vital connection.

January 2024

The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle caused the loss of abutment on the bridge’s left bank, leaving the existing bridge requiring an extension to close the gap between it and the bridge’s abutment. Rock armouring works around the new true right abutment and existing true left abutment will protect the bridge from further erosion during flood events. 

UPDATE: 22 April 2024

Abutment works on the bridge are now complete and the contractor is ready to install the bridge's beams. A second crane is onsite to lift the beams onto the abutments, which will incur a slight delay for traffic passing by the bridge rebuild site. Extra scour protection in the form of rock armouring will be installed under the southern abutment at no cost to Council. 

UPDATE: 5 April 2024

Reinforcing of the northern abutment is now complete and the formwork has been installed. The bridge rebuild is tracking well and on schedule for the concrete to be poured next week, where blinding (site concrete) will be poured on the southern abutment, preparing it for reinforcing steel fixing to commence. 

UPDATE: 28 March 2024

Crews have begun reinforcing work for the northern abutment ahead of concrete pour scheduled for the beginning of April. 

UPDATE: 22 March 2024

Construction of the bridge's abutment embankment continues in preparation of the precast panels getting installed.

UPDATE: February 2024

Great progress has been made on the Gwavas Bridge rebuild in Tikokino since construction began in January.

Contractor Concrete Structures has reached a significant milestone as crews begin the piling work for the new structure. The next phase of construction will see the bridge abutments being built, followed by the bridge’s new deck. 

The build is running to schedule and expected to be complete and open to traffic by the end of June 2024.

December 2023

A complete washout of culvert and overlying material at Gwavas Bridge during Cyclone Gabrielle has meant a completely new bridge build is required. Construction of the new bridge will feature rock armouring around the bridge’s structure, protecting the new bridge against future erosion around its abutments and reducing the possibility of bridge failure.  

Contractor Concrete Structures will begin construction on the new bridge at the beginning of 2024, establishing and setting up the work site on 22 January. Work is programmed to take four months, with the new bridge completed and open to traffic by the end of June 2024.

UPDATE: March 2024

Repairs to scouring and slips beneath the bridge have been completed, as well as planting on the southern embankment. 

January 2024

Post-cyclone, Saleyards Bridge was left with scour and slips around its abutment and piles. Approx. 800 metres of planting of both flax and sedge will be required on both sides of the river surrounding piers 5 and 6 of the bridge to reduce the risk of erosion and assist with sediment control. 

As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, flood debris (including logs and bails) was caught upstream of Flaxmill Bridge and scour resulted under the barrier on the downstream true right approach. Contractors have since repaired the damage to the site using Rip Rap rock revetment either side of the bridge (upstream and downstream) and Enkamat on the bridge’s berm. 

Extreme weather during Cyclone Gabrielle left significant scouring at piers 1 and 3 of Wallingford Bridge (before image below). Contractors have successfully backfilled the scour with limestone rock Rip Rap as well as shaped and covered the bank with Enkamat, topsoil and grass seed (below right), completing repairs that aim to reduce the risk of erosion and assist with sediment control. 

Contractors will supply and install approximately three metres of soil-anchored sheet pile wall together with a concrete wall at Wakarara Bridge’s abutment, backfilling the concrete wall with drainage metal to prevent further disrepair and reinstating the pavement and new guardrail. 

An over slip resulted in the surface of the road being pushed up by the landslide, subsequently reducing the traffic to one lane.

The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle caused the road and true right abutment at Fletchers Crossing to be washed out, resulting in a complete road closure until repairs can be made. The bridge will remain closed until the most resilient solution for the bridge can be determined.

The impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle resulted in severe erosion to Taurekaitai Bridge's true left upstream abutment, washing out the soils around the abutment and prompting a weight restriction for vehicles under 3.5 Tonne only.

To repair the bridge and strengthen it against future erosion and flood events, contractors will jack the bridge to level and reinstate the existing retaining walls as well as carrying out rock protection works and increase the height of the gabion wall next to the river. Contractors will also patch and tie in road surfacing to the existing abutment. 

The devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle resulted in undercutting of wingwall piles at Titoki Bridge's true left upstream abutment, compromising the structural integrity of the bridge and prompting a weight restriction of 3.5 Tonne to ensure the safety of all road users (see below left picture).

To repair the damage, contractors Concrete Structures have supplied and installed a concrete foundation and two temporary piers, connecting them to girders and installing a Reidbrace and Brace system to strengthen and protect the structure against future flood-related damage.

High flow waters from Cyclone Gabrielle damaged drainage structure on Tourere Road, with the overland water flow resulting in a minor downhill side under slip at the site.

To remedy the landslide, contractors will remove the flood material and supply and install a new intake structure comprising a 1.2 metre diameter culvert and new rock bag drop structure. To complete the works and protect the site against future erosion or possible slips, crews will carry out trenching at the site and remove then reinstate the gabion wall.

An under slip and over slip at this site caused significant damage to the road surface and left it uneven, reducing the roading corridor to one lane. A priority give way will remain in place until the most resilient solution for the road can be determined.

Excess surface water from Cyclone Gabrielle caused an under slip on Tourere Road that reduced the roading corridor to one lane and damaged the seal for a portion of it, as well as removed the old retaining wall and timber lagging that was in place.

To remedy the significantly damaged site, contractors will cut back into the hill side to achieve a 30-metre retreat behind the existing road and construct approximately 200 metres of new road. To protect the site against future flood damage and erosion, a 0.9-metre diameter culvert will be supplied and installed, together with a headwall and debris arrestor.

Severe river scouring to the road occurred at this site, reducing the roading corridor to one lane and restricting the line of site around the corner. Traffic lights are currently in place until the most resilient solution for the road can be determined.