New Bridges Enhance Community Access At Cooks Beach

Cooks Beach, on the Coromandel Peninsula, is a thriving community that is growing bigger every day as people build new homes, most of them at Longreach.

The 22.5ha waterfront development began in 2015 and is now almost complete, with 163 individual sites dotted among community green spaces including a playground and walking tracks.

Moving in and around Longreach in a safe and enjoyable way is crucial. Longreach’s engineering consultants, Crang Civil, engaged Bridge It NZ to design, fabricate, construct and install a 14m-long dual lane vehicle bridge (with a pedestrian pathway), a 27m-long pedestrian multi-span bridge and a 35m-long timber boardwalk.

“There are always solutions that will be appropriate in some situations but not others,” explains Crang Civil’s Senior Engineer Tom Henderson. “Bridge It NZ helped us through that selection process and were transparent in suggesting the best and most cost-effective options.”

Crang Civil originally planned to install box culverts to navigate Longreach’s natural waterways and marshlands.

“But when we looked at the feasibility of those, we found they were hugely expensive and there were ecological issues. Bridges were a better option because they had no impact on the stream – we didn’t have to dig anything up”.

“We really liked the fact that Bridge It NZ could give us a quote for the design and construction right up front. We could straight away compare them to box culverts. Traditionally, you’d have to spend money on a bridge design, then get a contractor to inform you how much it would cost to build. So right from that early design stage with Bridge It NZ, we knew how much it would cost. The fact they could design and manufacture as one complete package was a huge advantage.”

The simplicity of having one company take care of all aspects of the bridge project was another big drawcard. “There was less management of contracts and construction inspections for us to deal with because they took care of it all which was a bonus.”

Bridge It NZ’s experience with different designs and materials meant they could offer multiple solutions for Crang Civil to choose from. A concrete multi-span pedestrian bridge with timber non-climbable handrails was selected to span the watercourse beside Longreach’s main playground. This provided the long rigid span necessary to avoid disturbing the waterflow and fish species below, while also looking aesthetically attractive.

Crang Civil considered using the same materials for the second pedestrian bridge through a marshland to keep things consistent but Bridge It NZ suggested a timber boardwalk would be sufficient, saving $95,000. “They were certainly looking out for our best interests.”

Bridge It NZ also worked hard to meet the developer’s timeframes. “One particular area is quite swampy, and council didn’t want us near it until it was dry. Bridge It NZ altered its construction methodology and used a Longreach excavator to build the boardwalk without entering this sensitive area. It meant we could finish that stage on time before Christmas and not have to wait for the wetland to dry out.”

Tom says he appreciated the co-operation shown between Bridge It NZ and Longreach’s earthworks contractor during the on-site installation. “Bridge It NZ’s communication was excellent. Both contractors figured out what each other needed and worked together to find solutions to any problems that cropped up.”

The hollow core concrete vehicle bridge took around 3.5 months to construct on-site and has an HNHO72 load capacity which is standard practice on the NZTA road network. It provides access to Longreach from the main road and is a much-needed second point of entry for the growing Cooks Beach community.

Having the majority of the bridges fabricated offsite and then trucked to the Coromandel saved money in terms of contractor and accommodation costs. “Our geographical location is a long way for specialists to travel. So, if you’re building and approving everything off-site, all inspections are quick and easy. Bridge It NZ had all the consultant expertise, so it was a smooth process and reduced the time, effort and money we had to invest. They managed everything.”

Every development is unique in terms of land contour and conditions, and Tom says the important thing is to fully understand your site before choosing how best to traverse streams, watercourses or other hazards.

Overall, Tom says Crang Civil was extremely pleased with Bridge It NZ’s service and the final structures. “We’ll definitely work with them again.”