Bridge-strengthening programme on hold as GDC prioritises storm recovery work

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne District Council is to suspend its programme to strengthen existing bridges during the current financial year because staff have been reprioritised to focus on storm recovery work.

The $650,000 annual programme was implemented to enable  50 MAX trucks — those carrying loads up to 50 tonnes — to use the bridges.

Of the district’s 332 bridges only 11 still need to be completed.

Council’s operations committee, consisting of all councillors and the mayor, approved the recommendation to suspend the programme.

The future of the 50MAX programme could be revisited as part of the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan, said the staff report before councillors.

Councillor Ani Pahuru-Huriwai said she had been told of trucks heavier than 50 tonnes using the Hikuwai Bridge, or more than one such truck using the bridge at the same time, which was prohibited.

She knew there were cameras on the bridge and asked how the truck requirements could be enforced.

Council director of community lifelines David Wilson said it was difficult to estimate the weight of a truck because of how it was loaded.

A truck might look overweight but it may not necessarily be so.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency did have cameras on bridges.

“We’ve had discussions with a number of companies that are taking overweight vehicles about their behaviour.”

Highway bridges were the responsibility of Waka Kotahi.

There were similar limited weight bridges on local (non-highway) roads which were the responsibility of council.

“Local contractors, by and large, they’re really good,” Mr Wilson said.

Cr Rob Telfer said he supported putting the bridge strengthening work on hold. It made sense.

Cr Tony Robinson asked if putting the funding on hold meant the funding could be lost.

Council journeys infrastructure manager Dave Hadfield replied, “potentially”.

■  50MAX vehicle combinations have one more axle than conventional 44-tonne vehicle combinations, meaning the overall truck load is spread further and there is no additional wear on roads per tonne of freight.