Whangarei’s Te Matau ā Pohe bridge nets Engineering Award

Whangarei’s Te Matau ā Pohe bridge nets Supreme Engineering Excellence Award

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Supreme Award has been awarded to those behind the creation of Whangarei’s Te Matau ā Pohe bridge.

McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd, Transfield Services, Novare Design Ltd, Gaia Engineers Ltd, Knight Architects, Eadon Consulting, Northern Civil Consulting and Whangarei District Council were recognised for their involvement in the creation of New Zealand’s second-ever bridge, and the first in 50 years, with a lifting mid-section to enable boats to pass underneath it.

The $30.4-million project also won the Transport Infrastructure Award earlier in the night and caps off a notable year for Whangarei City, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

“It was a pleasure to announce the team behind Te Mata ā Pohe as the joint winners of the Supreme Award for 2014. It’s a well-deserved accolade that we hope will also inspire others to continue to integrate excellence in design with New Zealand’s unique cultural identity and ingenuity,” Panel Judge, Peter Higgs says.

“It’s an outstanding achievement that has not only addressed a very practical need, but done so in a way that has created a new landmark the entire region can be extremely proud of,” Mr Higgs says.

The Awards are run by the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) on behalf of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA), Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ), Civil Contractors New Zealand, Water New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans and the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ).

Further information regarding the Awards, including an overview of each of the finalists and videos featuring their work, is available at www.nzeeawards.org.nz

ENDS

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