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All city-bound lanes on the Auckland Harbor Bridge are closed overnight to allow for the replacement of a damaged strut, resulting in heavy congestion at both ends of the bridge.
The newly made 22.7 meter replacement strut started its way from Whāngarei to Auckland on Saturday, being transported in two pieces.
As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the southbound and northbound lanes in the center of the bridge were closed to allow the temporary strut that was installed to be removed.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
The Auckland Harbor Bridge will be closed to traffic heading south from the North Shore on Saturday night.
Beginning at 9 p.m., the two southbound clip-on lanes will close and remain so until mid-morning Sunday, while the new permanent support is installed.
READ MORE:
* Auckland Harbor Bridge – Video shows permanent repair of damaged bridge in progress
* Auckland Harbor Bridge: Why is NZTA closing lanes in high winds?
* Auckland Harbor Bridge: a new strut will be installed this weekend, ahead of schedule
* Motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles are urged to avoid the Auckland Harbor Bridge.
The southbound freeway entrance ramps at Esmonde Rd and Onewa Rd were also closed as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Motorists are requested to use the western ring route.
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Traffic near the Harbor Bridge was heavily congested around 6 p.m., after the first few lanes were closed before the permanent strut was installed overnight.
On Saturday, the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency said both pieces of the strut weighed “several tons” and were making the 100-mile journey from Northland in an articulated flatbed truck.
SUPPLIED
Cars trying to cross the Harbor Bridge were stopped at around 6.30pm on Saturday. Photo taken on Wellington St.
“The strut has been made from New Zealand-made steel at Whangārei as a similar replacement and has been painted to match the rest of the bridge superstructure.”
The closures follow damage that resulted when a freak gust of wind caused a truck to hit the bridge just over two weeks ago.
At around 11 a.m. on September 18, a 127 km / h wind pushed the truck towards the bridge and damaged its structure.
WAKA KOTAHI NZ TRANSPORTATION AGENCY / Supplied
The new strut is loaded onto an articulated flatbed truck before being brought to Auckland for installation.
Last week, a temporary strut was installed on the bridge to allow for the reopening of more lanes and alleviate heavy congestion that was causing problems for motorists.
Culham Engineering has built a permanent solution in Whangārei and delivered it to Auckland for installation.
The transportation agency said the only thing stopping the Saturday night facility would be the weather, but it looked good.
“The strange event that damaged the bridge strut was unprecedented in the bridge’s 61-year history and has had a significant impact on its users and a major response effort,” said Transportation Services General Manager Brett Gliddon.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Brett Gliddon, Managing Director of Transportation Services for Waka Kotahi NZTA.
“On Saturday night, engineers plan to replace the temporary strut that was installed last week. The permanent prop will be 22.7 meters long and will reach from the arch to the deck of the bridge ”.
Once installed, retensioning will have to be done on another night that has not yet been decided.
This would require more lane closures.
“We are confident that we have not left anything to chance, checking and rechecking the load calculations and then having our detailed plan reviewed by overseas bridge experts. However, there are still many things that need to be done overnight, “Gliddon said.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
The prop was severely damaged after a strange gust of wind brought down a bridge.
“We know that the reduced capacity has been disruptive, and we are grateful for the patience and support we have had as we work as quickly and safely as possible to carry out a permanent repair on the bridge that will open all eight lanes.”
North Shore buses to the city will stop at the Akoranga bus station starting at 8.15pm on Saturday, Auckland Transport said.
It will then provide a shuttle service from the station to and from the Birkenhead ferry dock where additional ferry services will be available.
One Transport NZ Transport Agency
The port bridge strut is being manufactured in Whangārei and should be installed this weekend.
Saturday night
From Birkenhead to the downtown ferry terminal:
Standard hours and additional ferry departures departing every 30 minutes from 8:45 PM to the last departure at 12:15 PM.
From Downtown Ferry Terminal to Birkenhead:
Standard hours and additional ferry departures departing every 30 minutes from 8:30 p.m. Until the last departure at 12 a.m. M.
Sunday morning
From Birkenhead to the downtown ferry terminal:
The ferries depart approximately every 30 minutes starting at 6.30am. M. And then they go back to standard time starting at 9.35am. M.
From Downtown Ferry Terminal to Birkenhead:
Ferries depart approximately every 30 minutes starting at 6.15am. M. And then they go back to standard time starting at 9:10 a.m. M.
