High level bridge upgrade

30 January 2014

Work has begun on the repair of Cambridge's high level bridge.

Waipa District Council's Group Manager Service Delivery, Barry Bergin said the bridge was in need of work to accommodate the differing needs of users.

Mr Bergin said the current footpaths were installed in 1925 and now required replacement because of corrosion and wear. At the same time council has agreed to widen the paths by 400mm to ensure both pedestrians, mobility scooter drivers and cyclists had a safe route across the bridge. The $1.1m project will also mean repairs to the bridge structure and drainage.

The work is expected to take around four months and council is currently seeking tenders from companies equipped to work in the particular conditions.

Work is made more complex because the bridge sits 39m above the Waikato River, spans 141m and has a Historic Places Trust Category 1 classification.

These three elements all mean we have to work this through carefully and keep in mind the safety of the workers and pedestrians and the management of traffic during construction.

At least one lane will remain open during the day time while the upgrade takes place but we would encourage people to think about using alternative routes during this period, Mr Bergin said.

A temporary roundabout has also been installed at the intersection of Shakespeare Street and SH1 to help the flow of traffic during this time. Details of closures and openings of the Victoria Bridge are published weekly in the Cambridge Edition.

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