Rissington reconnected by Bailey bridge

05/04/2023

After Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the North Island’s East Coast, Rissington was completely isolated after flood waters and slash wiped out the 43-metre-long bridge which connected the community to the wider Hastings District. The damage left hundreds of residents and essential supplies to cross the Mangaone River by inflatable boat each day. 

On Friday 31 March 2023, four weeks after the cyclone struck, a temporary Bailey bridge was opened largely in thanks to a display of true industry collaboration. Downer joined the Hastings District Council, Berkett Earthmovers, Fulton Hogan, Lattey Group, many subcontractors, and locals in the effort to establish a reliable and safe route across the awa (river).

Bailey bridges are vital resources in emergencies like severe flooding events as they are ‘kit set’, temporary bridges that can quickly be transported and installed across the country to reconnect isolated communities. Downer manages and installs New Zealand’s Bailey bridge stock for Waka Kotahi.

“Fulton Hogan maintains Hastings District Council local rural road network. It was pretty clear that the cyclone hit these roads hard, and it’s near impossible for any single contractor to manage it alone. Coming together as a team is our best option to help re-connect communities and get through this,” explained Oliver Postings, Downer’s Hastings Branch Manager.  

With Berketts Earthmoving concentrating on shifting the mountains of silt and creating the approaches to the bridge, Lattey Group installing the piles, and Fulton Hogan overseeing the mahi, Downer were able to quickly deliver and install the Bailey bridge. 

“We have a dedicated Bailey bridge yard here in Hastings with a specialist, skilled structures team, so it only took four days for five people to install the bridge. A huge achievement given the scale of the damage following Cyclone Gabrielle, and a proud moment for the Hawkes Bay structures team,” says Oliver. 

The temporary bridge gives a safe and reliable route for the Rissington community, allowing the community to connect to vital services. In the four weeks following the cyclone, the inflatable boat was replaced by a dirt culvert accessible only to 4WDs in good weather conditions. Now, anyone on wheels can easily and quickly cross the river. 

Rissington is one of the first Bailey bridges to be opened in the East Coast area, with the installation of about 8 more planned for the coming weeks and months on both local roads and state highways. The bridges will reconnect areas hard hit areas such as Wairoa. Downer will supply and install them all. 

Beyond deploying Bailey bridges, Downer teams are on the ground across the East Coast assisting in the region’s recovery with teams reinstating damaged roads, rail and utility services while still maintaining various networks. The recovery will be long, and Downer is committed to seeing it through in partnership with our communities.