Sinking feeling for the Waiharakeke Bridge

SINKING SETBACK: Engineers and contractors survey the damage to Waiharakeke Bridge caused by the sudden sinking of one of the piers during the resurfacing project. Robyn Hodges photo.

Plans for today’s re-opening of the freshly re-surfaced Waiharakeke Bridge, on Harbour Road near Kawhia, received a major set-back on Monday when one of the piers sank.

The bridge has been closed for the past two weeks while work to replace the timber decking was underway. The bridge is on the boundary of Waitomo and Otorohanga Districts and was a joint project between the two Councils. The work had been proceeding as planned, and re-opening of the bridge was scheduled for today.

On Monday afternoon one of the existing concrete piers supporting the bridge dramatically and unexpectedly sank by just over a metre into the segment of the Kawhia harbour, creating a major technical problem.

In a joint statement, Councils said with the failure having only just occurred, and with significant technical investigation required before appropriate remedial work to the bridge can be fully defined, it is difficult to reliably estimate how long the bridge will be closed, and the cost of the required works. It is, however, hoped that it may be possible to make the bridge passable for light vehicles within a week, though this will be dependant on satisfactory results being obtained from the technical investigations.

It is likely that a significantly longer period will be required before the bridge can be returned to a fully serviceable condition, capable of carrying heavy vehicles. People affected by the closure of the bridge will be provided with updated details of the likely duration of closure as this becomes available.

While the failure was considered unforeseeable, the two Councils recognise that the resultant prolonged closure or restrictions of Waiharakeke Bridge will cause significant inconvenience to residents and travellers, and apologise for the nuisance it will create.