The Luggate Red Bridge, on SH8A near Wānaka, will be closed on Thursday (March 3) for resurfacing.

People who usually use the bridge between 9am and 5pm will need to either take the detour route or travel outside of these times, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said.

Essential bridge repair and maintenance work was undertaken on the bridge late last year:  running boards were replaced, the handrail was repaired and abseilers tightened deck bolts. 

Following this work some resurfacing needs to be carried out on the bridge deck, as well as scheduled bridge inspections, NZTA senior network manager Robert Choveaux said.

“The inspections on the more than 100-year-old bridge include some specialised testing, [and] will require the bridge to be closed for daytime hours to 5pm,” Robert said. 

“During the bridge inspections, Aspiring Highways has opted to also apply bitumen sealing patches on the deck and finalise our active signage project.”

The goal is to complete all three aspects in one single day closure, he said.

Road travellers can take a detour via Kane Road, Camphill Road, SH6 and Shortcut Road, which is approximately 32km and takes 20-25 minutes to drive.

Arrangements have been made to accommodate school buses.

“We thank the travelling public and freight operators for their patience and understanding,” Robert said.

The project has two main elements: active signage that provides speed feedback to drivers prior to crossing the bridge and asks them to slow down if required; and loops to monitor the size and speed of vehicles crossing the bridge.

“The Red Bridge was opened in 1915, designed for lighter vehicles and fewer vehicles than are using the bridge today,” Robert said. “We are continuing to maintain it for safe use now and into the future, and this project is one tool that allows us to do so.”

Reducing the speed of the large vehicles that travel over the bridge reduces the load, reducing the overall wear and damage, he said. 

“The monitoring aspect of the project will allow us to see if the active signage is working and understand the full picture of the vehicle types and speeds contributing to the ongoing stresses,” Robert said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App