Client: Waka Kotahi/NZTA
Structural Engineer: Beca

Following the successful completion of similar work in Waioeka Gorge, Contech worked with Beca in an ECI arrangement to carry out FRP deck strengthening to the bridge over the Omanawa River just outside Tauranga. The bridge is nearing the end of its practical life and is to be bypassed within the next few years. To ensure the structure isn’t compromised in the meantime, strengthening of the bridge deck was required.

Several complexities with this project made the work challenging: high traffic volumes, difficult access, and the proposed timing of the work as winter approached.

Taking the lessons from the SH2 Waioeka Gorge Bridges project, an optimised TMP was developed that included closing the bridge to overweight traffic during the FRP installation work. This significantly impacted heavy-haul road users, and the work needed to be completed as quickly as possible.

By optimising the work sequence and overlapping tasks, the crew reduced the work duration from four weeks to two. This resulted in the restrictions on road users being lifted early and a public relations win for Waka Kotahi.