Expressway’s tallest overbridge opens
Waikato Expressway’s highest overbridge has opened.
At 18.8 metres high, the Kay Road Bridge provides a key connection to Hamilton’s northeastern suburbs.
The two-laned bridge, which carries traffic along Kay Road over the expressway, is 90 metres long and consists of 3320 tonnes of concrete and reinforced steel.
It was the largest single excavation of the project.
‘‘A hundred and forty-four thousand cubic metres of soil needed to be excavated to cut the expressway route through the Kay Road ridge,’’ NZ Transport Agency portfolio manager Darryl Coalter said.
‘‘That’s enough soil to fill four rugby fields piled five metres high.’’
Other bridges within the expressway jigsaw are typically 8m high.
Another approaching milestone is the opening of the overbridge on the Longswamp section, connecting communities east and west of the four-lane highway.
‘‘A big part of the Longswamp project is strengthening local road networks and keeping people connected. This has involved extending Whangamarino Road south and over the expressway to meet the extended Rodda Road on the western side.’’
Further south, the Huntly project has a big construction season ahead, finishing off earthworks and pushing on with pavement construction. There are nine bridges in various stages of completion.
Horsham Downs Road will close at 6am on Tuesday, October 9, to allow for construction of another bridge across the expressway.
The road will close just north of Borman Road for up to 14 months. Detours will be sign-posted via Kay Road and Henderson/Boyd roads.
A bridge at the northern interchange, where the beams are now in place, will take four lanes of traffic over the main trunk railway line and the Huntly off-ramp.
Huntly is a complete greenfields project, which means most of the work is taking place out of sight across the countryside and over the Taupiri Range. NZTA will host an open day on October 27, giving bus rides along part of the new road.
‘‘We are looking forward to this opportunity to showcase the project and talk to people about our work around the environment and ecology, pest management, bridgebuilding and cultural relationships.’’
The Hamilton section is the final piece of the 102km expressway jigsaw and is on track for completion in 2020.
‘‘Work has continued from end to end over winter and this summer sees the final 1.7 million cubic metres of earth moved and a shift in focus to pavement works.
‘‘And with 17 bridges, including the five interchanges, that work continues right along the 22km route. People may have noticed a lot of activity in the southern gullies in preparation for bridging, and also in the Mangaonua Gully near Morrinsville Road where a 150m-long bridge is taking shape.’’
At Tamahere, NZTA is planning to switch State Highway 1 traffic on to two new lanes. The two lanes will take traffic under the new East-West Link Bridge.
NZTA urges motorists to follow speed limits and watch for changing road layouts.