Work starts on the Wairoa Bridge cycleway extension

Activity picked up this week on construction of the cycleway extension on the Wairoa River bridge with completion expected in early Autumn 2020.

Brian Perry Civil Limited is the contractor for the $4.178 million bridge cycleway which is part of the final section of the Omokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway.

Work started on the western (downstream) side of the bridge and includes setting up a fenced work area and installing super-silt fencing in the Wairoa River Reserve.

Public access to the Wairoa River reserve will be disrupted to some extent and the contractor requests that people respect the signage warning on the approach to the reserve area off Te Puna Station Road. Existing bollards will be removed on the reserve to give contractors better access.

Disruption to traffic will be minimal on SH2 with work mainly limited to night time. Visual electronic signs will be set up in advance, warning motorists of any highway disruption such as shoulder closures and speed restrictions.

High screens already installed on the sides of the bridge are to ensure passing motorists are not distracted by the construction activity alongside the state highway. The contractor will notify all stakeholders on key stages of the works’ phases.

Work on the upstream side of the bridge, near the public toilets, will start late October.

The cycleway attached to the bridge will link with the final section of the cycleway from Wairoa Bridge to Carmichael Road in Bethlehem which joins the Tauranga City cycle network.

For more information on the Omokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway visit: https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/recreation/cycleways/omokoroa-to-tauranga-cycleway