Work to replace New Zealand's last rail-road bridge underway

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Artist impression of the new Taramakau Bridge on the West Coast

Work to replace New Zealand's last road and rail bridge has begun.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges turned the sod to mark the start of construction on the West Coast's new $25.8 million Taramakau Bridge on Thursday.

Former Prime Minister John Key at the Taramakau road and rail bridge between Hokitika and Greymouth.

The bridge, between Greymouth and Kumara Junction on State Highway 6, is part of the Government's Accelerated Regional Roading Package announced in 2014.

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'The new two-lane bridge will replace the existing one-lane Taramakau Bridge, a 130-year-old structure that is the last road and rail bridge on the state highway network,' Bridges said.

'The existing bridge is on an important route in the West Coast and is used by more than 3500 vehicles a day, creating congestion issues with vehicles having to queue to get across.'

The new bridge also included a 2.5 metre wide, off-road cycle and pedestrian facility that will link into an existing cycle track.

'The cycle links will play a part in the growing tourism opportunities developing in the West Coast, such as the Wilderness Trail,' Mr Bridges says.

Rail traffic would remain on the existing bridge and a section of SH6 would be realigned and an overpass built to take road traffic over the rail line.

Work was expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

The combined road and rail bridge has been the site of 25 accidents in the 10 years to June 2015, including a fatality in 2012.