Work beginning on temporary bridge fix
Work on a temporary fix that could reopen some lanes on the damaged Auckland Harbour Bridge will begin today, the New Zealand Transport Agency says.
The announcement came as Auckland commuters faced extensive delays after a freak accident on Friday when strong and sudden gusts toppled two trucks as they crossed the bridge, shutting half of the lanes.
Brett Gliddon, NZTA’s general manager of transport services, said the repair work meant southbound clip-on lanes would be closed overnight from today for about two nights.
The closures would allow the NZTA space to bring steel in, and ensure the health and safety of workers.
Gliddon said steel for the temporary fix was being fabricated in Auckland. Once installed, there would be ‘‘real-life tests’’ with heavy trucks going over the bridge to test if it performed to design specifications and requirements. ‘‘Only then will a final decision be made about whether the temporary fix is suitable to allow the reopening of additional lanes,’’ he said.
‘‘Once that decision has been made, it is expected that two extra lanes on the centre-span of the bridge [one northbound and one southbound] could open up to traffic later this week.’’
Gliddon said yesterday 11,500 vehicles crossed the bridge northbound – 30 per cent fewer than the same time last week.
Meanwhile, the Upper Harbour Highway had 11,600 vehicles travel southbound, 4000 more along the route than the previous week.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier said there were teams working on both the temporary and permanent solutions to repair the bridge.
She said it was important to remember this was a ‘‘one-in50-year event’’.
At midday yesterday, NZTA said: ‘‘A temporary fix to reopen some lanes may be possible in a few days but a permanent repair is weeks away.’’
The permanent fix requires a beam to be designed and manufactured from scratch.