At the end of the design phase the new bridge will look somewhat different to the image above. It will be wider and may have other changes to the design.
Construction of a new bridge is not in the NZTA three-year state highway plan that was launched last month. The plan will be reviewed annually. To get the construction go ahead, this project has to compete in a very tight funding environment with other priority state highway bridges and road projects.
Design and analysis
10 May 11
SKM to design Kawarau Falls Bridge
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has awarded the design contract for the new Kawarau Falls Bridge to Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM).
The contract covers the initial design of a proposed two-lane bridge to be built alongside the existing single-lane Kawarau Falls Bridge at Frankton on State Highway 6 (SH6) near Queenstown. The construction cost estimate is close to US$12.7 million without the effects of inflation.
NZTA southern regional director Jim Harland said that SKM will manage the contract using planning and design experience from around New Zealand with the addition of specialist International expertise in bridge design.
Queenstown Lakes District Council will be closely involved in the design process reflecting the bridge’s importance as the southern gateway to Queenstown. Consultation, the initial design and resource consent applications are all expected to be completed by the end of the year he said.
