Construction of new bridge on Amberley Avenue starting

Published on 04 July 2024

Construction of a new bridge on Amberley Avenue, between Pencarrow Street and Caroline Crescent, is starting.  

The design of the new bridge has been completed, and Emmetts Civil Construction is starting preparatory construction work this week. The road can remain open during this initial phase as it will largely be conducted from the section of existing road space already closed or coned off. This part of construction includes locating underground services across the bridge and hydrovacing, or digging, these up.  

Full road closures are not expected until mid-to-late July, pending the approval of a resource consent by Horizons Regional Council. 

Construction of the new bridge is expected to be completed by early-2025. Updates will be posted to our roadworks webpage.  

Pedestrian access across the bridge will be closed 24/7 during construction as the contractor is unable to provide a safe passage through the worksite and there is no alternative option.  

Detour routes will redirect vehicles down Pencarrow Street and Clarke Avenue. 

Transport and Development Group Manager Glen O’Connor says the project involves replacing the existing culvert on Amberley Avenue with a new 12-metre single-span bridge.  

“The current culvert, constructed in the early 1970s, was initially scheduled for repairs in 2024 following a routine assessment last year. However, a subsequent assessment revealed significant deterioration, which required us to bring forward a full replacement. We know Amberley Avenue is a popular route between Pioneer Highway and Tremaine Avenue, used by many residents and heavy vehicles. Due to logistics and distribution growth, many transport companies have been using Amberley Avenue in recent years as a shortcut, which the road and culvert were not originally designed for. We’re excited to get the replacement underway so the road can return to normal operation as quickly as possible.”    

Urgent restrictions were placed on the road above the culvert in November to mitigate further damage, including weight restrictions and traffic management to limit the road to a single lane. 

The culvert provides a crucial crossing over the Kawau Stream, connecting Pencarrow Street and Caroline Crescent. This upgrade is essential to ensure the safety and reliability of the infrastructure for the community. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during the construction period.