Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that State Highway 25A between Kōpū and Hikuai will be re-open to traffic in time for Christmas, by Wednesday 20 December – three months earlier than anticipated.
With finishing works still ongoing, the bridge will open under traffic management at a reduced speed. The project team will be completing drainage and planting, so the project won’t be fully complete for a few more months. This work won’t require the road to be closed, though traffic management will be required from time to time.
The cost of the bridge, once everything is finished, is expected to be approximately $43m, under the $50m estimate.
Last week the team finished the soil nailing which stabilises the slip-face. They are now completing the grouting and getting the mesh in place and bearing plates on the slip face.
The pavement on the western road approach was finished and the kerb and channel and transition side barriers between the road approach and the bridge installed.
On the eastern approach precast stormwater u-channels are now in place and the slope above the southern side of the road hydroseeded.
On the bridge, the barrier stitch pours were finished and the elliptical top-rails installed. A layer of asphalt was laid on the bridge deck to level the surface.
Our next steps are to chip seal and lay the final asphalt layer all the way from one approach to the other, including on the bridge deck. This will require a few days of dry weather.
We’ll also install the side barriers on the approach roads, continue with the stormwater drainage, and working through finishing works such as line marking and installing signage.
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