The old Taipa Bridge pier piles are still visible at low tide but will be cut down to below the level of the river bed.
The end of an era is almost complete with the demolition of the old one-lane bridge at Taipa going to plan and due to be finished next month.
NZ Transport Agency said a new two-lane bridge has been constructed next to the old bridge, and while half of the bridge
opened to foot and vehicle traffic in February, the other half is being used for machinery and equipment in the demolition process of the old bridge.
"Demolishing a bridge is complex work and the need to protect the marine environment has added an additional layer of complexity," NZTA's senior manager project delivery Andrew Thackwray said.
"Each of the concrete spans cut out of the bridge is 15m long and weighs up to 16 tonnes. Spans are cut into four sections, lifted out on to the new bridge and then cut into a further three sections before being transported off site."
The old pier has been removed, but the piles are sitting just below the water line at low tide. The piles will be cut down further so they are below the level of the riverbed, he said.
