Good progress on New Zealand’s first extradosed concrete bridge

In New Zealand, contractors are making progress with the piling on Weiti River Bridge in Auckland.

A visualisation of the Weiti River Bridge. Credit: Waka Kotahi NZTA

The bridge designed by Knight Architects, Aurecon, Tonkin & Taylor, RoadLab and Isthmus with distinct V-shaped towers, now has 147 piles bored. The span arrangement reduces the number of piers needed, minimising the impact on the riverbed.

As well as a two-lane highway, the 540m bridge will have a separate active travel path and will offer breathtaking views of the Weiti River mouth and Rangitoto Island.

One of the V-shaped towers of Weiti River Bridge. Credit: Knight

The bridge’s box girder element will carry utilities and there is space for a sewer main if that is ever needed.

The bridge is one of five on the 7km O Mahurangi–Penlink, a project by Waka Kotahi NZTA to reduce congestion and connect up a peninsula community. The contractor is HEB Construction, a Vinci Construction subsidiary in a consortium with Fulton Hogan, Aurecon and Tonkin & Taylor (link opens in new tab).