The bridge superstructure was officially opened by the Mayor, alongside council representatives, contractors and most importantly the 16 residents for whom this bridge will make the biggest difference to their lives.
Mayor Stoltz says connecting communities has always been a priority after so many residents were cut off when eight bridges were lost during Cyclone Gabrielle.
“It’s such a pleasure to be here today to build bridges, literally and figuratively, in our community. After such a traumatic year every bridge and road re-opening is a step toward recovery and healing.
“I’d like to thank the residents of Bushy Knoll Road for their resilience and their patience. I’d like to thank the engineers and contractors who have put in the hard yards to reconnect these lifelines in our community.”
Gisborne District Council principal capital adviser Darren Cox said a temporary low-level bridge was installed on March 28, to allow light vehicle access for the residents who were cut off after the cyclone.
“We used a recycled bridge span from a previously decommissioned structure.”
The temporary low-level bridge survived many heavy rain events this year, however, was prone to being inundated in larger floods.
“It was only ever intended to be temporary until a more secure bridge crossing was able to be installed,” Mr Cox said.
“The failure of the existing bridge in Gabrielle and overtopping of the temporary bridge during the late June heavy rainfall, reinforced the need for a more secure bridge across the river, which needed to be longer, higher and more resilient.
”This Bailey bridge provides secure access in all-weather to 22km of road where there are multiple homes and residents.”
There are also farms, and forestry blocks that use this bridge located 4km along Bushy Knoll Road.
Mr Cox said a Bailey bridge was considered appropriate given its ability to span longer distances and its rapid deployment following site and foundation preparation.
“The Bailey bridge system is a portable, through truss bridge made up of individual steel components that are assembled on-site and can be launched across a river without large construction equipment.”
Mr Cox says contractors, consultants and council staff have achieved a lot in the months since Cyclone Gabrielle hit Tairāwhiti on 13 and 14 February 2023.
“This opening today of a new Hollywood Bridge is considered a milestone in the long road to recovery.”
The Bailey bridge system was originally developed in 1940/41 by the British for use during Second World War. The bridge chosen for this site is a modern equivalent to the original wartime Bailey bridge, and this was supplied by Mabey Hire NZ, a company of expert engineers who provide bridging solutions.
A three-span configuration was chosen, and the Bailey bridge has an overall length of 71m. The main span crossing the river is 12.9m (approximately 40 percent) longer than the original bridge central span and is set approximately 1m higher.
Mr Cox says that was to move piers out of the main channel away from where faster flows and debris are present and to increase the freeboard to future floods.
He said this Bailey bridge design and construction had been a collaborative effort across many organisations – Gisborne District Council, Waka Kotahi, WSP, Fulton Hogan, Downer, Mabey with subcontractors LatteyGroup and IBA Engineering, Ritchie Civil, Earth Works Solutions, Civil Project Solutions, Civil Assist, RoadNoise and C R Taylor Gisborne.
It came in at a cost of $ 3.2 million.
