Media Release
Wednesday, August 30

Iconic New Plymouth bridge wins 2011 Roading Excellence Awards

New Plymouth’s stunning Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and Coastal Walkway Extension was last night honoured as the best new road project, taking out the Roading New Zealand Supreme Award in the 2011 Roading Excellence Awards.

On their way to the top prize, the team behind the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge also received the Winstone Aggregates Excellence Award for a Minor Road Project.

The competition judges said the project combined an iconic design with technical excellence and innovative architecture to create a wonderful asset for the local community. The design, by Whitaker Civil Engineering, was chosen through a competition staged by the New Plymouth District Council in 2007 which asked entrants to create a bridge which was ‘simultaneously utilitarian and beautiful’ on a site which was significant both culturally and environmentally.

“The team has designed and built this internationally acclaimed asset for the district, which has well and truly achieved the council’s objectives. It is inspirational and has been embraced by the local community,” the judges said.

The project was one of 13 finalists recognised across five categories at the award ceremony, hosted by Roading New Zealand at Auckland’s Langham Hotel. The awards are open to all organisations involved in the delivery of roading projects in New Zealand and seek to promote leadership, excellence and best practice in the provision of land transport infrastructure.

Fletcher Construction, Higgins, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Beca won the Z Energy Excellence Award for a Major Road Project for their work on the Manukau Harbour Crossing. The project involved upgrading the motorway to four lanes of the 644m Mangere Bridge, plus adding 3.5km of pedestrian and cycle routes, 2kms of major water main infrastructure and provisioning for a future rail link.

In the same category, Leighton, Downer, NZTA and Sinclair Knight Merz, were highly commended by the judges for their work on the SH20 Manukau Extension, connecting SH1 with SH20 and Auckland Airport.

Fulton Hogan, Auckland Transport, Resolve Group and GHD won the New Zealand Roading Solutions Excellence Award for a Medium Road Project, for the widening of the East Coast Road – one of Auckland’s main arterial routes, which carries more than 23,500 vehicles a day. Judges noted the team’s efforts to ensure minimal traffic disruption while adding two lanes, cycle lanes and upgrading intersections.

The InfraTrain New Zealand Best Practice Award for People went to City Care, recognising the support provided to staff following the Christchurch earthquakes. The company said its “quiet and unassuming army of workers” had been some of the unsung heroes after the quakes, working day and night to restore and maintain essential services. The judges said City Care’s provision of ongoing support, ensuring staff were cared for during this difficult time was very effective and admirable.

In the Hire Quip Best Practice Award for Procurement category, MWH was highly commended for its work on the Owenga Wharf replacement at the Chatham Islands. The project offered little margin for error given the remote location and provided the local community with a vital asset, offering a berth for their fishing fleet and access between the Chatham and Pitt Islands.

Roading New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Olsen said the awards continued to impress with the high quality of entries, with this year showcasing the wide range of skills New Zealand’s roading industry has on offer.

“The attention to detail evident in these projects, from the first design stages through to implementation and completion shows this is an industry which is truly committed to providing value for money to its clients with collaboration and innovation.”

ENDS

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