New Bridge Restores Access To Valuable Whenua
A small timber bridge on a Horohoro dairy farm was swept away by flood waters in 2018, preventing its Māori landowners from accessing six hectares of valuable land southwest of Rotorua.
Unfortunately, Horohoro A32 Ahu Whenua Trust didn’t have funds to replace it immediately. But in 2022 Te Puni Kōkiri trialled a new initiative to support capital improvements that would unlock the potential of Māori land. Funding for the trust’s replacement bridge was soon approved, and Bridge It NZ set to work to provide a full turn-key solution.
In addition to designing, manufacturing and installing the 16m x 4m steel beam and concrete deck bridge, Bridge It NZ took care of the resource consent applications and all civil works involved in the project, including access tracks and approaches so they could move materials and equipment onto site.
The Horohoro A32 Ahu Whenua Trust comprises members from several different iwi who were consulted as part of the resource and land use consent process. Bridge It NZ also liaised closely with Te Puni Kōkiri to provide regular updates and transparent costs to meet their financial reporting requirements.
Safety & Efficiency
The farm runs alongside SH30 and access is near the brow of a hill, making it dangerous should vehicles come speeding over the hill while Bridge It’s trucks were turning. Bridge It NZ organised a solution with Waka Kotahi to mitigate this problem and worked with a local civil subcontractor to create an improved entranceway, allowing quick and safe access off the main road.
Carrying out work on an operational dairy farm posed extra challenges. The best time to build the bridge was before calving got underway, although winter weather and wet farm tracks meant Bridge It NZ had limited access to one side of the bridge. The steep grade of the paddock, which provided entry onto the site, was also unsuitable for trucks and delivery vehicles.
Bridge It NZ put its problem-solving expertise to great use and found the most suitable and cost-effective path for a new access track which minimised the impact on the area. They also created a sled that allowed them to move their pre-cast concrete abutments and timber poles using an 8-tonne excavator.
This innovative technique meant significant track upgrades weren’t required for the bridge installation, resulting in significant savings.
Precision Pricing
Bridge It NZ typically offers clients a fixed price contract to ensure peace of mind. In this instance, Bridge It NZ were able to save their client $15,000 by designing a bridge that could be installed using excavators, rather than building an access road, and bringing a crane to site to lift it into place.
Bridge It NZ’s methodology involved manufacturing a short launch nose attached to the steel superstructure so it could be safely lifted across the stream and fully installed within just two days. After launching bridges at multiple tricky sites, Bridge It NZ regularly ‘launch’ bridges rather than lifting them by crane. They have established a safe working methodology that allows this to be completed quickly, accurately and efficiently.
Just prior to this project, Bridge It NZ purchased a Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT) rig. This allows them to confidently predict the soil strength and accurately determine the pile lengths that will be required to support a bridge’s foundations. This removes uncertainty from the equation, meaning they can purchase the appropriate amount of piles required, enabling more accurate pricing and efficient installation.
Bridge It NZ utilised their full range of skills to deliver this new crossing, including steel fabrication, pre-cast concrete manufacture and site installation. Their ability to carry out all work in-house means they could deliver the most cost-effective solution while adapting to changing scenarios and achieving critical deadlines.
High Expectations
The new bridge required extensive retaining on both sides to lift the bridge over 2m higher than the original structure. This will ensure it can withstand a 1 in 100-year flood event. Because of its 0.85HN rating, it’s capable of handling stock, vehicles, farm machinery, and anything road legal that doesn’t require a permit. The bridge will remain fit-for-purpose for decades to come.
Collaborative relationships and communication were the backbone of this project. By working closely with the client and Te Puni Kōkiri, Bridge It NZ was able to deliver a product that exceeded expectations.
Horohoro A32 Ahu Whenua Trust spokeswoman Katie McIndoe says the 52-hectare farm is now one complete block again, with the bridge providing full access to valuable pasture for cows to graze. “It gives our leasee and farm manager access to more resources and makes it more time efficient,” she says.
The Trust was grateful to Te Puni Kōkiri for funding the entire cost of the project, and to Bridge It NZ for their smooth delivery of it. “We’re really quite thankful that we had them to go to. They had all the expertise, all the resources, and all the right people. Even the administration and accounts ladies were nice to deal with.
“We had to rely on the fact they held our best interest at heart, and they did. I can’t say enough about them. They were really good communicators, and they would always contact me if they needed anything or there was any hold up. For all those years we had to wait [for a bridge], it was well worth it.”
Contact us now to discuss your next project.
Let us manage the details:
 Site investigation and assessment |
 Full design, drawings, fabrication and installation |
 Resource and building consents |
 Compliance Certification |
 Funding application assistance |
 Traffic management plans |
