Whangarei's giant crane explained - it's a Canopy Bridge clean-up

Whangarei's Canopy Bridge is getting a $20,000 full clean for the first time since it was built, with a giant crane employed for the job.

The Whangarei District Council completed the Canopy Bridge in 2011, contracting Fabric Structure Solutions to build a $400,000 canopy over the former traffic bridge, which had been used as a car park since 2006.

The same firm maintained it, and yesterday used a large crane to clean the outside of the glass windbreak, along with the canopy. While the canopy was cleaned twice a year, this was the first time the windbreak had been cleaned since 2011.

WDC group manager district living Paul Dell said the crane was necessary because of the design of the windbreak.

"It's over the water, it's curved and the bridge itself is also curved. The crane will allow the contractors to reach to clean the outside of the glass facing up the river," Mr Dell said.

Mr Dell said because of space constraints, the work would be done in two phases.

"From [the crane's] current location we can reach half of the bridge and then we will be looking at night works to complete the other end as this may involve closing a lane on the John St bridge," Mr Dell said.

The work will cost about $20,000.