Tractor tows logging trailers across Red Bridge amid safety fears

David Heads from McCarthy Transport has been tasked with towing trailers from trucks on his tractor over Red Bridge. Photo / Duncan Brown

The familiar sight of 70 year old David Heads in a tractor on Waimarama Rd has been greeting drivers since December 1, with many wondering what he might be doing.

Due to structural issues on Red Bridge over the Tukituki River, transport company, McCarthy Transport has been going above and beyond to bring their logging trucks over the other side.

Mr Heads had been tasked with using a tractor to tow logging truck trailers over Red Bridge - something he does between 20 to 30 times a day.

McCarthy Transport chief executive Steve McDougall said they had been doing this since the beginning of December when weight restrictions were put in place on the bridge among others in the region and around the country.

The changes relate to the new Government-mandated updated rules for truck weights etc.

"The alternative route is Tukituki Rd but we have chosen not to use it due to it being narrow and a lot of residents and also a cycleway, so we have chosen to invest in the tractor to stay off the Tukituki Rd which isn't ideal for lots of heavy traffic."

He noted that it had happened before on rare occasions, but only for short periods of time and on more rural roads.

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said many options were considered to minimise the impact of the new weight restriction imposed on Red Bridge.

Reducing the bridge to single lane was considered briefly but was deemed to have such significant detrimental effects that it was quickly discounted, she said.

Council has built a widening bay on Waimarama Rd to accommodate trucks that need to truck only across red bridge, and use a tractor to bring across a trailer.

The spokeswoman confirmed what Mr McDougall said, noting that the alternate route available down Tukituki Rd was not desirable from a road width and pavement-strength perspective.

The council has held five public meetings across the region and is working very closely with the rural community and industry (logging, agriculture etc) as it moves towards upgrading bridges on important routes, she said.

"Council also held two industry-wide meetings to help prioritise the bridges to be brought up to the new standards, and Red Bridge came out as a top priority. Investigations on what work is required are underway. Plans to strengthen the bridge are expected to go through 2018/2028 Long Term Plan process."