Four Beca bridges projects shortlisted for the 2022 New Zealand Bridges Summit

SH2 Wairoa River Bridge Cycleway Extension, Victoria Street Bridge – Asset Management Programme of Works, Waikato Expressway Hamilton Bridges and School Road Bridge shortlisted in Aotearoa New Zealand’s prestigious bridge design practices and structures awards ceremony.

After a three-year hiatus, the New Zealand Bridges Summit is set to return to Wellington on the 23rd and 24th of March 2022. The Summit celebrates the indispensable contribution of the people behind the design, construction and maintenance of bridges across the country. Winning an award is a recognition of excellence and we are delighted that four Beca bridges have been shortlisted.

SH2 Wairoa River Bridge Cycleway Extension is shortlisted in the ‘Pedestrian & Cycle Bridge’ category, delivered in partnership with DC Structures Studio.

Since its completion in September 2020, the Wairoa River Bridge Cycleway Clip-on has enabled the surrounding communities to safely cross the Wairoa River as part of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway Trail.

Delivered on behalf of Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Waka Kotahi, this project illustrates how lightweight modular steel construction was key to adding a cycleway to a bridge already close to its load carrying capacity in a safe and innovative manner. Achieved while minimising traffic disruption to a key arterial route and environmental impact to the ecologically and culturally important Wairoa river estuary. The project provides a vital link to pedestrians and cyclists, whilst futureproofing the expansion of the cycleway. The overall solution is considered transformative for maximising the use of existing bridge assets to help improve walking and cycling in and around the Bay of Plenty region.

Victoria Street Bridge – Asset Management Programme of Works is shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Asset Management & Maintenance’ category.

Located in Cambridge, within the Waipā District, Victoria Street Bridge was constructed and opened to the public in 1907 and is a Grade 1 listed structure by Heritage New Zealand. It is 141m long, with an 88m long main arch span with steel girder approach spans.

As bridge consultant to Waipā District Council, we implemented an holistic asset management review of condition, resilience, and potential vulnerabilities of the Victoria Street Bridge. Innovative investigation and structural assessment methods have provided an enhanced understanding of the asset. These reviews have enabled an optimised maintenance strategy and provided confidence in the resilience of the structure.

Waikato Expressway Hamilton Bridges is shortlisted in the ‘Large Structure Award - Above $5 million’ category.

The Waikato Expressway forms the key transport corridor between Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland and the Waikato, and the Hamilton section is the final stage, which includes 17 bridges. This project by Waka Kotahi, encompassing a 22km long expressway, is the largest roading project ever undertaken in the Waikato, a region considered to be highly susceptible to liquefaction during a seismic event.

Our tailored liquefaction assessment, combined with an innovative “floating abutment” solution for the fill bridges, can cost-effectively accommodate the predicted ground movements, and involves detailing that allows rapid and reliable reinstatement for traffic - providing structural resilience for a key lifeline route.

School Road Bridge is shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Bridge Design - Innovation, Sustainability and Structural’ category. This bridge is part of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, another Waka Kotahi project.

The innovative design process followed enabled the development of a highly resilient, low maintenance structure that achieves a sensitive fit within its natural and built environment. Standing as a two-span steel composite bridge to carry the local road over the new expressway and rail track, the bridge superstructure consists of four 1,800mm deep steel I-girders, which are tied together by a concrete deck slab and backwall.

Last in order but not of importance, as a proud partner of the ASM (Auckland System Management) Alliance, we are delighted to have the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency Repairs shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Asset Management & Maintenance’ category. Find out more about our collaboration with Waka Kotahi and our ASM Alliance partners here.

Congratulations to all the finalists – we look forward to reconnecting with you in person and celebrating the art of designing and building innovative, efficient, economical and sustainable bridges at the 2022 New Zealand Bridges Summit.