Company to pay $60k for repairs to bridge

A shortcut to save about 30 minutes time will cost a trucking company around $60,000.

The Bertrand Rd Bridge, near Tikorangi, was damaged on May 20 when an oversized truck drove across the bridge and caused significant damage to its running planks, decking boards and handrails.

The damage to the bridge, which has a weight limit of 4000 kilograms, will be paid for by the company that employed the truck driver, New Plymouth District council infrastructure manager David Langford said.

The bridge is expected to reopen again by the middle of next month. The name of the company has not been released.

Langford said inspections carried out by council found no serious damage had been done to the structure of the bridge and any of its supports.

‘‘When it reopens, it will be for pedestrians, cyclists, motorbikes and light vehicles only.’’

As well as making the necessary repairs the council will replace the existing traffic bollards, which were in place to restrict bridge access to light vehicles only, with larger ones.

‘‘Over the years the previous bollards had been nudged aside as bigger vehicles have tried their luck. As well as bringing in these larger bollards we’ll install four more – two on either side – 10m away from the bridge as an additional warning to drivers,’’ Langford said. The bridge’s reopening will come as a relief to those who use the bridge regularly as it is a well known shortcut for people living in the area.

The bridge crosses the Waitara River and connects the communities of Huirangi and Tikorangi.

The nearest alternative crossing is approximately 8km away on State Highway 3. - Kris Boult