Road users advised to detour past Remuera overbridge

Road users in the Newmarket area should plan to detour around the Remuera Road rail overbridge and commuters on the Southern line can expect minor delays as a result of concerns about the bridge’s structural integrity, ONTRACK DART Project Director Ted Calvert said today.

The bridge was closed by Auckland City Council (ACC) to road traffic on the recommendation of ONTRACK this afternoon following the discovery of some cracking in the bridge structure by contractors.

The bridge is being rebuilt as part of the region wide rail upgrade to accommodate the new Newmarket train station and provide sufficient clearances for future electrification of the network.

“The bridge is about 100 years old, has weak piers and is approaching the end of its working life says Ted Calvert. “As such we are taking a conservative approach to the entire rebuilding process.”

“This afternoon on the advice of our engineering staff and contractors, we took the decision to close the bridge as a precaution until we’ve had a closer inspection and extended the props we have been using to support the structure.

“We will be working around the clock but expect this will take at least 24 hours. We ask motorists to plan their journeys accordingly and thank them for their patience while we get this done.”

“The bridge is in no immediate danger but it is important that we take any sign of distress seriously and take action to protect road and rail users.

“It’s a decision we haven’t taken lightly because we are aware of the repercussions it has for both road and rail users,” said Mr Calvert.

Southern line trains are operating but at reduced speeds beneath the bridge which will increase journey times for Southern and Western Line users.

“We have a full team on site investigating this and will working around the clock to find a solution and get the bridge re-opened as soon as possible.”

Issued by ONTRACK

ENDS

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