In the severe weather, experience on January 29 of this year, some 30 Western Bay of Plenty properties on No 4 Rd were affected when the original bridge over Raparapahoe Stream was swept away. Although a private road provided access for six weeks, this wasn’t suitable for heavy vehicles. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council installed a portable, prefabricated truss Bailey bridge in March, in time for the kiwifruit harvest.
The council has been working on a permanent solution, with four proposed options presented to councillors by senior transportation engineer Calum McLean. Option 1 would see a new 30 meter bridge placed just east of the former and temporary bridge, at an estimated cost of $2.75 million. Option 2 was a new bridge placed 40 meters upstream of the former bridge, costing $3.5 mln. It would be a similar length to option 1, but have a 7 per cent slope because of the difference in ground height on the road either side of the river. The third option was a 60 meter long bridge, some 70 meters upstream of the old bridge, costing $6.75 mln. Option 4 was to install the bridge in the same place as the former bridge, but would mean the Bailey bridge would have to be removed and the road closed leaving the residents with only private access for more than six months.
All four options were for a single-lane bridge because that was what was there before. Unfortunately, a permanent solution could still be 18 months away.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
