Subscribe to RSSSturges Rd Replacement Bridge: Spot The Difference - Photos
It’s time for my monthly inspection on the great progress being made to replace Henderson’s Sturges Road rail bridge.
We’ve been critical here suggesting that maybe the bridge could be replaced in less than the year the Waitakere council project is going to take.
After all, it’s only inconveniencing thousands of motorists each day who have to use the road or choose to - because a one-way Bailey bridge is running and like Kopu bridge, you have to queue until the green light is given so that it’s your time to go.
17,000 vehicles usually use this road daily.
The new bridge will be built one side at a time.
So here’s what progress I found this morning, compared to exactly a month ago.
I’m sure you’ll be amazed at the progress and be able quickly to spot the difference without me having to label which 2 photos were taken exactly a month ago, and which 2 are as of this morning.
Yes, this is ridiculous. It’s time someone found the money for Ontrack to take this over.
LAST MONTH; Bailey Bridge up
JAN 4: Bridge demolished, Bailey erected
11 Comments
I agree, as a local resident it is rather infuriating that nothing is being done. They seem to have torn down the old bridge then just walked away.
Most motorists can’t see what is going on due to the barriers so probably suspect that things are happening below the road level. If there were to know the truth there would probably be outrage.
I’m just glad I catch the train during the week so I’m not affected by this during rush hour as even off peak there can be decent queues.
It was always insane that the govt did not include this bridge in it’s upgrade of the Auckland rail network. Incompetence pervades.
I understand that the bridge WAS included in the govt scheme (and is still part-funded by them) but Waitakere insisted on some other upgrades beyond reinstating the status quo (such as cycle paths, good on them) and thus the whole project became much more complicated (funding and construction wise).
Max the problem is nothing has been done other than demolish the bridge and put a single lane temporary bridge up. I wouldn’t have an issue if they were actually working on site.
I’m not defending their work programming - I was responding to Jon Dalley’s comment that the bridge isn’t included in the electrification contract.
3 lane bridge over 2 tracks - exactly the same as St Marks Road, which took just five weeks.
I suspect they just wanted to use the three week rail shutdown to get the demolition out of the way.
Still, KR are not going to do any favours to the neighbourhood that keeps running them down over the Mainline Steam plans!
“3 lane bridge over 2 tracks – exactly the same as St Marks Road, which took just five weeks”
But my understanding is that the old one wasn’t 3 lanes. Also, the St Marks bridge was needed for the NZTA motorway on-ramp. Nudge, nudge, wink wink, things move faster and with more funding when NZTA’s around.
I drive on the little Bailey bridge every single day. I can tell everyone that there has been no work at all on the site after the Bailey bridge went up, no worker no machine nothing! I don’t see the new bridge is coming!
Hesky - Yep I see it every day also and it is pretty disgraceful. We got a flyer from the council recently saying they couldn’t do some needed work while the trains were running, this was before Easter, I thought I would wait till after that to see if they started then but nothing so far.
@Matt L. That’s pretty disgraceful indeed. I live pretty close to the bridge but didn’t get the brochure you mentioned. I’m real sick of the Bailey bridge, even thought about selling the house and moving away.
Guys look around you. I thought the contractor has started mobilization and is set up (see site office) on site yesterday? I drove past, I live on Vintage Drive and saw them working. The Council website is advertising that the bridge will be open before December 2010. I suppose a little inconvinience for 7 months but a new bridge to last 100 years, I suppose we should be happy here in Henderson that we are atlast getting a new bridge. Good on the Council and Henderson Community Board, atleast they are building this most important bridge before the Supercity nonsence takes over in November this year.