Bridge on busy road to be demolished

A bridge on one of Waitakere City's busiest routes is in poor condition and authorities want it demolished this year.

Many cracks have been found in the 60-year-old concrete bridge taking Sturges Rd over the western rail line.

Its state has prompted the city council to restrict trucks to carrying two-thirds of normal Class 1 road weights.

Infrastructure chairman Derek Battersby said the council had agreed to demolish it and build a wider structure.

Work was intended to start this year on the $8.5 million job, which would bring benefits of a third lane, an improved intersection with Swanson Rd and two walkways.

Sturges Rd is a collector for new housing areas and carries 17,000 vehicles a day. It served orchards, vineyards and foothills farms when NZ Railways built the bridge to pass over the single line that carried steam trains to Northland.

Mr Battersby said Ontrack had agreed to give $2 million for the new bridge, which will be built to serve a double-track line and the increased height requirements of electric trains.

As a result, the bridge and Sturges Rd would have to be raised by up to 60cm.

This work would affect about 22 houses. Driveway levels would need to be adjusted and retaining walls, fences and screens built.

"It could mean reduced privacy of properties fronting on to Sturges Rd within 60m of the new bridge," Mr Battersby said.

The closing date for objections is September 7.

Residents contacted by the Herald were surprised at the latest proposal, saying only a year ago they were told the structure would be raised 1.2m.

A new bridge had been talked about for years and they were anxious to learn how their properties would be affected under the revised plan.

A council report dismissed another choice -lowering the railway line - as too expensive.

Ontrack refused to consider the option because it meant lowering rail levels about 1km to give an acceptable gradient for trains between Henderson and Ranui.

Community liaison group member John Riddell said work would disrupt traffic and "it will be good if they do it when everybody is on holiday".