Preparation for bridge repairs underway
17 January 2014
Around 140 metres of scaffolding, spanning the width of the Victoria bridge, is being installed in preparation for the bridge upgrade.
The first stage of installation of the specialist light-weight scaffold will take around 1000 hours over three weeks.
The scaffolding is part of the preparation for repair work on the 106-year-old bridge which will include widening the footpaths by 40cm to ensure provide a safer route for pedestrians, mobility scooter drivers and cyclists.
The repair work is expected to take about four months. The traffic lanes on the bridge will remain at their current width after the work is completed; they will not be narrower.
Waipa District Council manager road corridor, Dawn Inglis said there was an overall restriction on the weight the bridge could carry which meant the scaffold had to be as light as possible. As a result, it could only be erected on one side at a time. The bridge will remain open while the scaffolding is installed.
At this stage the bridge will be fully closed on the night of 28 January 2014 to set up barriers and signage and then the northern lane from Leamington to Cambridge will be closed from 29 January 2014 when work will start on the bridge repairs.
The anti -clockwise route over the bridge means that vehicles travelling from Leamington to Cambridge make only left hand turns into the traffic which keeps things moving at peak times , Ms Inglis said.
Access to Settlers track from Dominion Avenue will be closed off during the project to enable materials to be removed and delivered without placing the public at risk.
A temporary roundabout has also been installed at the intersection of SH1 and Shakespeare Street to help ease traffic flows during the repair period. A permanent intersection will be designed once the expressway is complete.
Residents are urged to look for weekly notices in the Cambridge Edition from January 22 regarding closures and updates on progress.
Ends
For more information please contact
Dawn Inglis
Manager Road Corridor
027 554 2221
