Work on Taipa Bridge comes with public safety warning

A bird's eye view of progress on Taipa's new two-lane bridge. Photo / Don Hammond

The NZ Transport Agency described Taipa's two-lane bridge location as a "tight site", next to the intersection of Oruru Rd and State Highway 10, and not the safest place to be.

Despite that, work is progressing on the new two-lane bridge, but it comes with a warning.

"It is critical to the safety of all that no one stands on the carriageway of Oruru Rd, the Taipa bridge and SH10 on the east side to observe or photograph project works," spokeswoman Barbara Ware said.

She is urging people to talk about pedestrian safety with family, in particular children

"To ensure the safety of all, on occasion the site traffic management crew will stop vehicles for short periods to allow moving plant (mainly trucks) to access this works site." Ware said the site traffic team report that drivers are generally observing the speed limits through the site.

Meanwhile, the piling of temporary staging from which the new two-lane bridge will be constructed has begun on the east side of the river. The first abutment piles have been poured, while on the other side potholing and topsoil stripping have been carried out under the supervision of the project archaeologist.

Site access has been established, the platform was being built up, and estuarine mud was now being removed.

Construction of the new bridge will continue across the winter months and into next summer.