Heritage Bypass footbridge contract let

A tender had been let for the construction of a footbridge to span the Kerikeri River in Kerikeri's historic Stone Store Basin.

The $902,000 contract has been awarded to a local company, A-Line Builders. Construction is expected to start mid-July and the project is expected to be completed before Labour Weekend (October 2009).

The 65-metre single-span steel bridge will provide a direct pedestrian link between public conservation land on the northern side and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust land on the south side of the river.

The work will include the provision of pathways and safety lighting to link the bridge with Kerikeri and Landing Roads. At the same time, it is planned to underground the high voltage electricity lines which currently span the Stone Store Basin.

"This is the final chapter in the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass project which started late in 2006 and includes the 1.6 kilometre road bypass and 81-metre traffic bridge completed last year," Roads and Stormwater Manager Richard Green said today.

"The footbridge component has proved the most testing aspect of the whole project. There were delays while design aspects and location were fully discussed with stakeholders to ensure the integrity and visual appeal of the historic precinct were not compromised, a further delay when the initial design failed to meet realistic cost parameters, and more recently, delays while design details were worked through with the successful tenderer.

"The project is expected to be completed in about 16 weeks," he said.