After a substantial slip destroyed a vital section of State Highway 25A in early 2023, NZTA Waka Kotahi prioritised the construction of a new bridge to reconnect towns on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Any response needed to be quickly delivered, and a new 124 metre Taparahi Bridge was confirmed as “the safest to construct and most resilient option, with the shortest and most reliable timeframe for reconnecting Coromandel communities.”
A key influence on build speed and the subsequent success of the project was due to the use of steel plate for bridge beams.
While the project was by no means an easy one, the bridge was delivered ahead of schedule. NZTA regional manager for infrastructure delivery Jo Wilton stated that the “the new bridge isn’t just the fastest solution, it’s the most resilient solution too.”
Photo: NZTA Waka Kotahi