A new bridge over the Waikato River will be constructed to support the development of Peacocke in Hamilton. The new bridge will connect Hamilton and Peacocke and cross the Waikato River south of the Hamilton Gardens.
The bridge features:
- four lanes, including dedicated bus lanes
- separate pedestrian and bike paths
- a span of 95 to 110 metres over the Waikato River
- no piers in the river, and a single Y-shaped pillar on the south bank of the river, supporting a flat bridge deck spanning more than 200 metres
- a pedestrian bridge on the northern side of the river, and
- lighting and structural features to minimise the impact on the native long-tailed bats and the surrounding environment, both during construction and when it is operational.
The surrounding transport network features:
- a 1.6 km extension to Wairere Drive from the new bridge
- urban upgrades to Weston Lea Drive and Peacockes Road to accommodate traffic and footpaths
- a network of underpasses, separated bike paths, and roads that prioritise buses and other public transport
- a two-lane, four-way roundabout at the intersection of Wairere Drive extension and Peacockes Road
- a signalised intersection at Peacockes Road and Weston Lea Drive
- relocated and newly installed utility services to cater for growth, and
- new stormwater, wastewater, and water supply pipes.
Key Dates
| Sep 2020 | Contract Award |
| Nov 2020 | Construction Commencement |
| Aug 2024 | Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
|
The bridge will be funded partly by Hamilton City Council, and partly from the New Zealand Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund. |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Hamilton City Council |
| Successful Tenderer: | HEB Construction |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2019 | Detailed planning for the project was completed. |
| Apr 2019 | After a stakeholder and community engagement process, designs for the new bridge were released in April 2019. |
| Jun 2019 | Preliminary designs for the project were completed. |
| Dec 2019 | Expressions of Interest closed for the construction of the bridge. |
| Apr 2020 | Hamilton City Council issued Request for Proposal to three shortlisted consortia but did not provide details. The successful tenderer is set to begin construction in late 2020, with completion expected by 2023. |
| Jul 2020 | Detailed design and construction drawings were completed. |
| Sep 2020 | Hamilton City Council awarded a NZ$135 million construction contract to HEB Construction. |
| Nov 2020 | Construction commenced. |
| Sep 2021 | Contract cost increase approved to NZ$140 million. The additional NZ$5 million was to be funded by developers. |
| Jun 2022 | Council approved a NZ$20.2 million increase to the contract (NZ$2.1 million for cost increases related to COVID-19 and NZ$18.1 million for inflation) bringing the project cost to NZ$160 million. |
| Oct 2023 | Council approved a NZ$3 million increase due to inflation, bringing the total project cost to NZ$163 million. |
| Aug 2024 | The project was completed and opened to the public, with pedestrians accessing the bridge first before it was opened to cars later in the month. The project was gifted the name Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge by mana whenua (the local Maori people). The name means pathway of the bat and reflects the consideration that was given in the design of the bridge to protect pekapeka-tou-roa (long-tailed bat) that live in the Peacocke area. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2023)
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
New Zealand |
Resources
