Erni's Bridge completed and open to traffic
Published on 16 October 2024
The new bridge
Erni’s Bridge on Kauarapaoa Road has been replaced ahead of schedule and within budget, with construction carried out by local Whanganui firm Emmetts Civil Construction.
The bridge that was in place had been deteriorating rapidly and had reached the end of its economic life. With a HPMV 50 max rating, the new bridge will be able to accommodate heavier loads.
The council’s transportation manager, Mark Allingham, says Erni’s Bridge, which crosses a deep ravine over Kauarapaoa Stream, is a crucial piece of infrastructure.
“It provides the only access to Kauarapaoa Road when the lower culvert at the start of the road washes out – as we saw in the December 2021 rainfall events.
“The bridge is a vital link for rural residents as well as for trucks transporting logs from Kauarapaoa Road forestry blocks to Whanganui distribution hubs and beyond.”
The new bridge cost just under $2M with 60 percent funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
While the bridge was closed for construction, forestry trucks had to take a 40-minute detour so the work was carried out over the winter months to avoid heavy traffic during the forestry harvest period.
Mark Allingham says with heavy truck use and wet winter weather, damage inevitably occurred along the detour route while the bridge was out of action.
“During this time there was great communication between council staff, Downer contractors and forestry, with harvesters letting us know when sections of road weren’t holding up to their loads, and stopping logging when it was too wet.”
He says that now that Erni’s Bridge has reopened, pressure will come off other roads in the area and we can get on with repairing small slips that occurred along sections of the detour route.
“I’m pleased to say repairs to the detour route will be funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, with the council recently receiving an extra $250,000 for drainage, resurfacing and repairs along the affected route.
“This gives us a great final outcome – an upgraded bridge and a more resilient transportation network to benefit both residents and industry in the Kauarapaoa area.”
The next significant roading project in the area – with work scheduled to start onsite early next year – is a culvert replacement 13 kilometres below Erni’s Bridge. Kauarapaoa Road will be kept open while this work is carried out.