Richard Claydon

t’s an interesting situation with the Pekatahi Bridge, where constant repairs have been needed ever since the rail lines were removed and the long-lasting, very strong Australian hardwood timber was mistakenly replaced with the current material.

The reason for constant surface repairs not needed previously is clear.

Meanwhile, the piers soldier strongly on, able to withstand log debris build-up which often needs removal by a long reach excavator operating from the bridge surface to safely free the trapped material.

A question – as the bridge has sometimes been topped by floods – will the new bridge and long eastern causeway be built higher, so State Highway 2 will remain functional?

And will the timber be freed from the new piers by an excavator as previously?

The new bridge design needs to withstand rising flood levels partly caused be rising river stone bed levels and climate change.

■ NZTA responds:

In the next design stage, detailed flood modelling, agreed with the Bay of Regional Council, will help decide how high the new bridge and eastern causeway need to be.

This will follow NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi guidelines for state highway bridges. The new bridge is also being designed to reduce the need to clear trapped timber after floods.