Two Hamilton bridges have outshone competition from across the globe to win the prestigious Eugene C. Figg Jr. Medal at the International Bridge Conference Awards in Pittsburgh today (16 July NZST).

The bridges, Te Ara Pekapeka and Taurapa, are not just impressive feats of engineering but vital infrastructure that connect the city, across the Waikato River, to the new growth area of Peacocke. The new neighbourhood will eventually be home to up to 20,000 Hamiltonians.

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said this was justifiably a proud moment for Hamiltonians.

"We didn’t build it to win an award, we built it to meet requirements to unlock land for growth and we worked side-by-side with Government to fund it and deliver it on time.

“This award recognises our approach. We involved the community, councillors, mana whenua, and government. This award isn't about steel or concrete, it's about people, it’s about attitude and it’s about a desire to deliver fantastic value.”

The four-lane Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge, surrounding transport network, and the three waters infrastructure are all essential components ensuring the successful development of this area.

"The award is a bonus and should be celebrated." Mayor Southgate said.

Southern Links Tangata Whenua Working Group representative Marina Hape said the mahitahi (collaboration) with mana whenua had built an enduring relationship between Waikato-Tainui, hapuu and Council, far beyond the completion of the project.

“Mana whenua was on the journey right from the very early planning and had input into every area of the project. Our partnership is evident through design, but also in how the Maaori world view has delivered on our aspirations for Maaori, the environment and our wider community.”

The annual International Bridge Conference awards medals to recognise individuals and projects of distinction. The last time a New Zealand bridge was recognised at the Conference was the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge in New Plymouth in 2011.

This is the second time Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge has been recognised on an international stage in recent months, receiving a Special Mention at the Architizer A+ Awards in May. The project also took home national wins at the New Zealand Planning Institute Annual Awards and Apopo Asset Management Excellence Awards for leadership in the respective fields.

Peacocke is being built with the support from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, made up of a $180.3 million 10-year interest-free loan and $110.1 million of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi subsidies.

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