The scaffold-like structure, a key part of the construction for the massive interchange ramps at the Waterview Connection. Photo: graysonline/Trade Me
The scaffold-like structure, a key part of the construction for the massive interchange ramps at the Waterview Connection. Photo: graysonline/Trade Me
"Dennis", the yellow gantry hanging above Auckland's Northwestern Motorway is in search of a new home.
The scaffold-like structure, a key part of the construction for the massive interchange ramps at the Waterview Connection, is up for grabs on Trade Me.
The start price was listed at $280,340and as at 2:30pm today the page had been viewed 136 times, but had no bids. The auction was due to close on Friday afternoon.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said "Dennis" would continue to lay beams on the highway interchange until the end of next month.
The structure travels backwards and forwards, fetching and lifting enormous precast concrete beams weighing between 60 to 69 tonnes and up to 36m long before lowering them into place.
The framework was designed and built in Italy, specifically for the company working on the tunnels and interchanges connecting the Northwestern and Southwestern motorways, Well-Connected Alliance.
NZTA's highway manager Brett Gliddon said the gantry had been critical to the project.
NZTA's highway manager Brett Gliddon said the gantry had been critical to the project. Photo: graysonline/Trade Me
"The gantry has eliminated the need for conventional cranes, which would have needed to have been moved into place at the start of a work shift at night and then taken away before the morning traffic peaks," he said.
He said it was saving the project time, reducing disruption for drivers, and avoided the need to use cranes in environmentally sensitive areas.
"Dennis has done its job perfectly."
The structure's namesake was 33-year-old worker on the project who died from cancer. It was painted yellow as a gesture of support for the Cancer Society.
