My Account
Skyrocketing construction and material costs are reflected in the budget of $420,000 allocated to rebuilding a footbridge in Centreway Reserve, Ōrewa.
The bridge, by Centrestage Theatre, crosses the estuary to Ōrewa College and is very well used. The entire timber deck and handrails of the 100m-long bridge need replacing, as well as some of the piles that hold up the bridge.
In a workshop last month, members of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board were told that the cost and availability of timber would be a huge factor.
It is two years ago that Ōrewa College students raised the condition of the bridge with the local board. Certain repairs were completed as a result, but that investigation made it clear that a lot more would be needed.
At that time, Council’s asset condition team estimated that it would cost around $500,000 to completely rebuild the bridge.
However, last week Council’s head of operation, Julie Pickering, told the paper that it later become clear that some of the structure could be reused, reducing the cost estimate to $420,000. The money is coming from a regional Council budget.
Council was to meet contractors last month to discuss the project and tenders for the work closed last week.
“Once final tenders are received, we will be in a position to comment on the cost and delivery timelines of the project,” Pickering says.
Bridge facts
• It is thought that the bridge, known by Ōrewa College students as the Rainbow Bridge, was built in 1982.
• In 2019, the need to widen the bridge to provide more room for cyclists and pedestrians was Ōrewa College students’ key concern. The bridge is 1.5m wide. However, to keep costs down, the rebuild will only widen it to 1.6m.
Backstories July 17, 2019
