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Rangitikei District Council strapline

Roads

Temporary Closure of Otara Bridge

Rangitīkei District Council wishes to advise that PURSUANT to Section 342 (b) and the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Otara Bridge will be closed from 9.00am to 2.00am on Monday 5 June 2023 till Friday 9 June 2023, then also from 9.00am to 2.00pm on Monday 12 June till Thursday 15 June inclusive, to allow works on the bridge to take place.

Closed hours:

  • 9am-2am, Monday 5 June - Friday 9 June
  • 9am-2am, Monday 12 June - Thursday 15 June

Otara Bridge will be closed during this time for all vehicular traffic.

Rangitīkei District Council regrets any inconvenience caused.

Weather Event - 21 May

Monday 22 May 2023, 2.30pm

Current list of damaged roads that we know about at this stage. We have inspectors north and south checking all roads and the bridges that have had water over them.

Roads closed:

  • Potaka Road
  • Te Kapua Road
  • Manui Road

Roads with slips:

  • Turakina Valley Road 2
  • Turakina Valley Road 3
  • Pohonui Rd
  • Ongo Rd
  • Koeke Rd
  • Watershed Rd
  • Tiriraukawa Rd
  • Wairepu West Rd
  • Leedstown Rd

Dropouts:

  • Santoft Rd

Please take care on our roads and plan your journey accordingly. Contact us on 0800 422 522 if you need to report further damage.

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Sunday 21 May 2023, 11.30am

After significant rainfall over the past 24 hours a number of roads are blocked by flooding and slips, including some state highways.

  • Matai St, Marton rail barriers down due to weather,
  • Leedstown Rd, Hunterville, slip blocking road
  • SH1 Hunterville slip blocking southbound lane.
  • Jefferson's Line Marton, flooding on road 1km up from Tutaenui Road
  • Racecourse Av, Marton, Purakau Creek breached and area flooded.
  • Pukepapa Rd, Marton at SH1, flooding on road making it dangerous for traffic.
  • SH3 north of Bulls, flooding on road. Diversions in place.
  • Slip on road at SH1 Mangaweka, contractors now on scene clearing road.
  • SH1 rail over bridge near Calico line flooded. Diversion last Ngata's also flooded but passable.
  • Makirikiri Rd/SH3 flooded but passable.
  • SH1 Bridge St Bulls, flooded and covering north bound lane.
  • SH1 and SH3 at Bulls, Closed
  • Brandon Hall Road Bulls, flooding on road.

Updated road conditions are available on Waka Kotahi.

Otara Bridge project update

26 May 2023
Otara Bridge Repair Task progress summary:
The following activities are underway in May - June 2023:
  • The lab has completed testing of the snapped hanger. A report is being drafted outlining the likely cause of failure and further fatigue effects.
  • Contractors will remove a further 5 hangers over the period 05 - 16 Jun. The aim is to lab test the additional hangers from the week starting 19 Jun 2023. We anticipate the bridge will be open for traffic over the weekend.
  • Traffic management, methodology and health and safety plans are being confirmed with the contractor prior to work starting.
  • The bridge has been surveyed. Survey information is being incorporated into our design.
  • Repair design for the buckled truss top chord underway.

The following works are to be carried out in June - Aug 2023:

  • Complete analysis with information from hanger lab testing and bridge survey.
  • Investigate strengthening the top chord to determine a practicable posting limit.
  • Peer review of analysis and repair design by WSP.
  • Replace the damaged section of top chord.
This will require a contractor engagement to complete works. If practical the bridge longitudinal camber will be adjusted to its original profile.
The following restrictions continue to apply:
  • Weight limit of six tonnes and speed limit posted on the bridge.
  • One vehicle to cross the bridge at a time.
  • Vehicles to travel central to the bridge.
In addition: Bridge closures 9am – 2pm over the period 05 – 16 June to allow for Hanger removal and replacement.
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19 May 2023

The following activities are underway in May - June 2023:

  • Lab testing the snapped hanger to investigate the cause of failure and further fatigue effects underway.
  • Six replacement hangers have been fabricated ready for a contractor to install.
  • In accordance with NZTA’s Bridge Manual, the statistical analysis will require six hangers total to be tested. These will be removed from the bridge and replaced with new ones. This testing will give a much more precise assessment of the bridge fatigue limits, and capacity. GHD is confirming contractor availability to complete this work. The snapped hanger will be replaced when the five samples are removed.
  • GHD is confirming repair methodology for the truss and abutment repair.
  • A peer review of GHD’s assessment will be completed by WSP. This includes reviewing the repair methodology and resulting bridge capacity.
  • The bridge has been surveyed and information is being finalised between the bridge engineer and the surveyor. The survey information will be used to determine the current bridge levels and compare them with the design drawings.

The following works are to be carried out in June - Aug 2023:

  • Replace the damaged section of top chord.
  • If practical the bridge longitudinal camber will be adjusted to its original profile.
  • Investigate strengthening the top chord to determine a practicable posting limit.

In the meantime, the following restrictions apply:

  • Weight limit of six tonnes and 10 kmph speed limit posted on the bridge.
  • One vehicle to cross the bridge at a time.
  • Vehicles to travel central to the bridge.

Please plan your journey accordingly to avoid delays and stay safe on our roads. If you see any issues that Council may need to be made aware please fill in our Report It Form or phone 0800 422 522.

You'll find State Highway (Waka Kotahi) info here: http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic