$1 million upgrade to Quarry Road bridge for flood protection

Work begins next week (Monday 13 January) on a $1 million upgrade to the Quarry Road bridge near Awanui.

The work will take place in two phases. The first $500,000 phase of the work will allow for earthworks underneath a proposed 15-metre extension of the bridge – which will open an additional span – and support the wider Awanui River Flood Protection Scheme.

The $600,000 second phase will involve construction of the bridge extension and associated works.

During the first phase of the work, one lane will be closed with traffic management and reduced speed limits in place. Motorists should allow extra time if heading to Kaitāia Airport.

A full road closure is planned towards the end of January/early February, with a detour along State Highway 1 and Donald Road. Further details will follow.

Funding for the upgrade comes from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund for consented priority flood resilience projects that will protect land and assets during severe weather.

The Quarry Road bridge was highlighted as a flooding ‘pinch point’ following a storm in August 2020. The additional capacity created by the Quarry Road works will add to the significant improvements the Awanui River Flood Protection Scheme already offers in terms of reducing the risk of flooding to adjacent properties and Awanui town.

Councillor Joe Carr, who represents the Northland Regional Council’s (NRC) Far North constituency, says the Government money includes $660,000 – matched by another $440,000 from the NRC – for a two-phase upgrade of the Quarry Road bridge.