Napier based company wins at Excellence in Steel Awards

Eastbridge general manager Andre van Heerden said it was "fantastic" for the team to get recognition for the work they do which is often hidden from view. Photo / Supplied

A Napier based structural steel contractor has swept up two awards for two projects – including the second largest steel bridge by mass in the country - at the Steel Construction NZ (SCNZ) Excellence in Steel Awards.

Eastbridge, which is specialist in bridge production, has won awards for the Manawatu River Cycleway Bridge and Bridge 20 which is part of the Transmission Gully project.

The Manawatu River Cycleway Bridge which was started in 2019 and completed the same year won in the $1.5million to $3m category.

The team proposed an alternative and simpler design to what was originally being considered by Palmerston North City Council which saved an estimated 4000 work hours, reducing build time by 12 weeks and saving more than $1m.

Eastbridge general manager Andre van Heerden said the bridge is notable for its "high aesthetic appeal".

The superstructure of the bridge is made of weathering steel and the handrail and balustrade are made of stainless steel.

The judges were impressed with the team's use of the design elements, ease of fabrication, and the low-maintenance result.

"Aesthetically outstanding, it is going to be a great community resource that will stand the test of time," they said.

The Manawatu River Cycleway Bridge won in the $1.5M-$3M category. Photo / Supplied

The second win for the company was Bridge 20 Cannons Creek, part of the Transmission Gully project which won in the over $3m category.

The project was started in 2018 and completed in December 2019 required more than two years' worth of continuous fabrication time in the workshop.

The steel box-girder bridge was designed to be launched over Cannons Creek Gully.

The lightweight steel structure kept the piled foundations and piers slim and, due to the material's lower mass, allowed for longer spans and improved seismic performance.

The judges were impressed with the civil engineering of the bridge saying the team developed an "elegant response for a difficult and irregular structure built on a challenging site".

It is the second largest steel bridge by mass in New Zealand after the Auckland Harbour Bridge, van Heerden said.

Bridge 20, part of the Transmission Gully project, won in the Over $3M category. Photo / Supplied

Van Heerden said both bridges were "very rewarding projects" which presented different challenges.

"It's fantastic for our skilled team to receive recognition for the work that we do, which is often hidden from view – much of the complexity and engineering capability that go into bridge design lies underneath."

In 2019, the company won at the same awards in the $1.5m-$3m category for its work on the Cambridge Pipe Bridge which spans 75 metres of the Waikato River.

He said in the past 10 years there has been a noticeable shift in the public infrastructure that is being delivered.

"Not only should it be resilient and highly functional, there is a desire for it to be aesthetic and something to leave for the future."

The company has its full operations from production facilities to the office in Napier and employs 120 staff, 40 of whom worked on the Bridge 20 project and 20 on the cycleway bridge.

After an earlier postponement due to Covid-19, the winners were announced on November 13 in Queenstown where 170 structural steel industry leaders and specialists attended.

Out of 35 entries, the judges cut it down to 15 finalists.

SCNZ chairman Frank Van Schaijik said that the "high calibre of projects" was a testament to the people of the industry.

"It's what distinguishes New Zealand's structural steel industry from other countries, which is vital in light of Covid-19 when local skills and capability are so highly sought after."