Ground tests needed for river bridge

A drilling rig will be on the site of Palmerston North’s planned cycle and pedestrian bridge within the next few days.

The activity is not the start of building work, but sampling of underground soils before the detailed design of foundations can be finalised. He Ara Kotahi project steering group chairman Ray Swadel said the rig would take samples from both sides of the river during the next couple of weeks.

He said the council had some historical information about the soil structures below the river bed from work near the Fitzherbert Bridge and from Powerco’s cable laying. ‘‘We have made some assumptions about the foundation design. But before we go out to tender we need to drill two bore holes to look at the core and see what materials are there.’’

The information would enable final designs for the abutments and piers supporting the bridge to be completed and then the two contractors who had been working closely with the city council would be invited to lodge formal tenders. Swadel hoped the contract would be awarded in late September so building could get under way during summer.

Residents close to the Dittmer Drive bridge site have been assured in the first of several project updates that noise and dust would be kept to a minimum during construction.

The bridge is part of a $10 million project to create an offroad link from the Fitzherbert Bridge to Linton. The 6.6-kilometre pathway has been started, but stops at a dead end short of the Turitea Stream.

Swadel said work was progressing on the design of a bridge that would need to be built across the stream, as well as other small bridges along the route. ‘‘We’re making good progress and are keen to get something moving as soon as possible.’’