Riddiford Bridge

Background
A visual inspection on 12 December of Riddiford bridge (94 Te Awaiti Road) has uncovered some significant cracks in the supporting piers. A second independent assessment on December 14 confirmed these concerns.

Following the advice of both inspections, Council has placed temporary traffic restrictions for the bridge as a safety precaution, while we commission an urgent detailed assessment in the new year. Until further notice, the following restrictions apply to the bridge:

1. Vehicles (20,000 kg) can cross the bridge.
2. Vehicles are to cross the bridge at less than 10km/hr.

Egis Report – 14 December 2023
An inspection carried out by Egis NZ was carried out from ground level and from the bridge deck. You can view the full report here. Note – following advice from the initial assessor – WSP, the load has increased from 3,500kg to 20,000kg since this report was published.

Remediation
It is likely the axial load capacity of the pier has been compromised and further investigations will be needed
to confirm the full extent of the damage before remedial options can be advanced.

This will occur in early 2024 and this page will be updated accordingly.

Related pages:
News item: Riddiford Bridge – measures in place