Kopu project ahead of schedule

The old Kopu Bridge. File photo / Dean Purcell

The completion of a new two-lane bridge at Kopu is nearing, but there are no guarantees the bridge will be ready for the queues of Coromandel holidaymakers at Christmas.

Transport Agency project services manager Bryce Carter said now the bridge framework was complete, finishing works such as barrier and railing construction was under way.

He said 13,200 tonnes of concrete had been used in the bridge's construction.

"While that sounds a lot, the bridge is 580 metres long and is actually a lot lighter than others of a similar size.

"The bridge is founded on very soft subsoils, so we needed to minimise its weight.

"We achieved this by using lighter steel bridge beams instead of the standard concrete beams."

Mr Carter said road construction crews were preparing to seal the first completed sections of the new eastern approach road to the State Highway 25/26 roundabout.

The eastern approach and the slip lane connection to Kopu Rd are now formed, but road construction is yet to begin where the road meets the bridge.

"On the western approach, subsoils have settled sufficiently ... However, settlement targets have still not yet been reached on the section closest to the bridge."

Mr Carter said settlement rates and weather were now the remaining key factors affecting whether the project would be finished before Christmas.

But the project was ahead of schedule, with completion originally expected in May 2012.

The Kopu Bridge Replacement project was launched by Prime Minister John Key in July 2009 as part of the Government's $500 million Jobs and Growth Plan.