Te Puna Bridge Structural Repair

The site of the Te Puna Bridge is located on Mangapoike Road in Hawke’s Bay, crossing the Mangapoike River approximately 35 km from Wairoa. Originally constructed in 1959 to service the Te Puna Station, the bridge now serves as the only access for one property owner between their farm and the local township. Significant flooding due to Cyclone Gabrielle caused one of Te Puna Bridge’s piers to dislodge from its foundation. The inclined steel pier disconnected from its concrete foundation, rotated about its pin connection with the truss superstructure to land in the riverbed. Following this the bridge was closed to any access due to its unstable condition, and to prevent potential further settling of the disconnected pier from loading. There is currently a ford crossing constructed to the west of the bridge for temporary access use. The Principal wishes to engage a suitably qualified and experienced contractor to replace one of the piers that was lost during Cyclone Gabrielle and undertake bridge strengthening work to allow the Te Puna Bridge to be reopened with unrestricted access and improved resilience. The project is being delivered through a traditional contract model (NZS3910:2013). This form of contract should not present any impediments to the successful delivery of the project. The project is also focused on fostering and enhancing relationships with local Hapu, upskilling the local suppliers, and supporting the local community to build back stronger.