The Victoria Street Bridge in Cambridge will undergo a full repaint in the coming months for the first time in 22 years.
The work is expected to start in September and will take around 9-12 months, with an estimated completion date in May-June 2023.
At the same time, minor maintenance work will also be carried out including repairs to small sections of the bridge and the replacement of some rivets and bolts.
Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson said the work is critical to maintaining and future-proofing a historic asset. While the bridge is safe, the repainting and maintenance is essential work that can’t be delayed, he said.
“The Victoria Bridge needs to be repainted on average every 20-25 years. This is because the bridge is exposed to harsh weather and corrosive pigeon poo, which over time leads to deterioration of the paint.
“The paint provides an important protective layer over the steel, preventing rusting and corrosion. Repainting is a very important aspect of bridge maintenance, making sure it stays in good condition.”
The bridge, which was constructed in 1905 and brought in separate pieces by ship from New York, was last painted 22 years ago in 1999-2000.
Hudson says Council is looking closely at how traffic may be affected while work is underway.
“Where possible, we will keep both lanes on the bridge open, but we do know there will be times during the project when the bridge will need to be reduced to one lane, or fully closed to vehicles.
“This is necessary due to the weight of the scaffolding that will be used, for the safety of those working on the bridge, and when certain aspects of the work are undertaken,” Hudson says.
“We are working with scaffolding and bridge specialists now to understand when this may be needed and for how long and we will communicate details as soon as we can.”
Pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters will always be able to cross the bridge in both directions except for when it is fully closed, he said.
The Ferguson Bridge (low-level bridge on Shakespeare Street) will remain open throughout the entire project period.
Hudson says Council expects to have more information to share with the community in late August or early September when a contractor has been secured.
Council is already working with schools and organisations including bus operators to explore ways to make it easier for people to move around Cambridge during the project.
“We are considering a range of options including a shuttle bus for Leamington residents, providing park and walk options and walking school busses for school children to minimise any disruption where we can,” Hudson says.
“At times when the bridge needs to be fully closed, we’ll look to carry out the work at night or at times when the bridge is less busy.”
This project will cost around $2.6 million and is already budgeted in Council’s 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan.
