Glass-walled walkway to rise above the Northern Motorway

April 10, 2007

Motorists and residents will watch over the next two weeks as massive steel sections of walkway are raised over the Northern Motorway to form one of the Northern Busway's most important pedestrian links.

The walkway bridge between AUT University's North Shore campus and the yet-to-be-built Akoranga Station will stretch over the motorway near the Esmonde Rd interchange.

"This will be one of the most visible parts of the Northern Busway, which will consist of five stations and the two-way bus-only road, now under construction," North Shore City's project services group manager, Wally Potts, says.

The Northern Busway is a joint project, with North Shore City Council responsible for the Busway stations, Transit New Zealand building the Busway road, and Auckland Regional Transport Authority responsible for bus services.

The steel sections, each weighing up to 25 tonnes, will form the frame of the bridge, with glass walls and a concrete floor to be added when the frame is in place.

"Raising the steel sections is a huge logistical job, and our contractors, NZ Strong, have been working hard to plan the technical and health and safety aspects of it," Mr Potts says.

"The sections will be raised by a 200 tonne crane using lifting apparatus specially engineered for the job," NZ Strong Construction site manager, Benji Potvin, says.

"When the bridge sections are in place, a custom-designed moveable trolley will be clipped on to the pylons, allowing workers to install the walls and floor," he says.

"The job will involve about 15 people, including a crane crew, riggers and construction workers."

The first section is due to be raised at 8.30am on April 12, with others to follow on April 18 and 23. The work will be done early in the morning, when there is less traffic and lower winds. These days and times may change, as the work is weather-dependent. Traffic will not be affected by the work.

"When the Northern Busway is fully operational early next year, hundreds of AUT staff and students are expected to use the Busway and the walkway each day, helping ease traffic congestion," Wally Potts says.

"Bus users will also enjoy spectacular views over the harbour, North Shore City and Auckland City as they head over the walkway bridge."

AUT has contributed a significant sum to the walkway bridge, as well as planning a linked walkway through the campus with a distinctive timber and steel design.

Other parts of the Busway project are also progressing well. Transit's SH1 Esmonde Rd interchange project will open in mid-May. The interchange will include new on and off-ramps, a southbound bus-only lane and a new east-west connection across the motorway.

A new section of Fred Thomas Drive, linking Akoranga Station to Esmonde Rd, will also open in mid-May. The road will be restricted to left turns into and out of Esmonde Rd for now, and will become a key bus route once the station is open.

Construction on the Busway is due to be complete by the end of the year. After this, bus drivers will be trained in how to use the Busway safely, and systems will be tested, before it opens for use in early 2008.

ENDS

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