"It's a great sight after all of the hard work that has gone into delivering this project ahead of schedule and under budget,” said NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) project services manager Bryce Carter. “Traffic is moving smoothly in both directions, and we're really pleased that holiday makers and local motorists will enjoy safer and smoother journeys to and from the Coromandel."
Construction of the 580m-long Kopu Bridge was brought forward by 18 months through the government's jobs and growth package. NZTA worked with its engineers and contractors to open the bridge even earlier, with the opening date brought forward from mid-2012 to this month. HEB Construction has built the bridge and the project’s consultant is Beca Infrastructure.
The original bridge was built in 1927-28 and remains structurally sound but did not have the capacity to cope with peak flows. On average, 9,000 vehicles crossed each day. The old bridge will continue to be used by contractors for construction traffic for the time being.
