MEDIA RELEASE

TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON REGIONAL OFFICE

9 May 2008

Procession of bridge beams for the new Dowse Interchange

Large bridge beams will be taken from Ngauranga Gorge to the Dowse Drive intersection on SH2 next week before being put into place to continue forming the new Dowse Interchange.

The ready-made bridge beams will be taken from Ngauranga Gorge to the project site on SH2 overnight on Monday and Tuesday, 12-13 May.

The first of 14 beams is due to leave Ngauranga at 7.00pm on Monday night and make its way along the state highway ready for placement as part of the Dowse to Petone Upgrade Project.

Each 24m long by 2.5m wide beam, weighing 32 tonnes, is so large that it will be carried on a special truck and trailer unit travelling with a long-load escort.

Transit Regional Manager Graham Taylor says that as soon as the beams arrive on site they will be lifted into place to form the north and south spans of the new Dowse Interchange over SH2.

“With the first span of the ‘east bridge’ already in place above the Melling railway line this means that road users will really be able to see how the final structure is shaping up,” says Mr Taylor.

Transit thanks the public for their patience while we improve their journeys.

ends

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