Subj : Canterbury rail bridge reopens after flood damage
To   : All
From : News
Date : Fri Apr 26 2024 01:00 pm

A major South Island rail connection has reopened as temporary repairs on the
Rangitata River rail bridge are completed, KiwiRail announced today.


It comes two weeks after one of the 610m bridge's 34 concrete piers was
washed away during high floodwaters on April 12.


Eight freight trains crossed the bridge each weekday and around five each
weekend.


All train movements over the bridge were suspended due to the damage and rail
freight was managed by road while the bridge was out of action.


KiwiRail chief infrastructure officer Andr‚ Lovatt said the temporary repairs
were a "significant undertaking."


"First, we had to divert the river away from where the pier was, then install
a structure to ensure the bridge spans didn't sag further or collapse and
damage the adjacent road bridge."


A temporary support for the bridge was then put in place with the help of a
250-tonne crane.


Finally, tracks which were warped when the bridge sagged were replaced across
two spans, Lovatt said.


"Today, we successfully ran a test train over the bridge and completed other
testing and commissioning work."


Lovatt said work would begin to permanently replace the pier now that the
line is reopened.


"The design is underway and initial works will begin next week."

These works include driving new casings deeper into the riverbed and building
a steel and concrete pier structure, expected to take 10-12 weeks.


Scheduled freight trains will resume crossing the bridge tomorrow.

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