CKL Gisborne delivers full survey support for one of NZ’s largest single mobile-crane bridge lifts.
CKL’s Gisborne survey team has been a core delivery partner in the reconstruction of the Te Reinga Bridge, a critical connection for the Te Reinga, Ruakituri, Ohuka, and Erepeti communities. Following severe damage from flooding in 2022 and the loss of the centre pier during Cyclone Gabrielle, the original bridge was demolished and replaced with a temporary Bailey bridge in 2024.
Work has now progressed to the installation of a permanent, long-span structure; a milestone that included one of the biggest single mobile-crane lifts ever undertaken in New Zealand.
Since early 2023, CKL has provided continuous survey support to construction contractors QRS (Wairoa) across every stage of the project. This work has included:
- Topographical surveys
- Construction set out for foundation piles and road realignment
- Monitoring of structures for movement, ground stability, and location accuracy
- Specialised pre-lift surveying for crane foundations, turn radius, swing path, and bridge placement
- Preparation of survey data for the construction of the temporary Bailey bridge
- Full set-out and survey control for the new 90-metre single-span bridge
Navigating complex site conditions
Access and site conditions made this a uniquely challenging project. With the original bridge unsafe, simply getting from one side of the river to the other required a three-hour detour, and slips and road washouts often made travel unpredictable.
Flooding repeatedly disrupted early works, washing out new piles during Bailey bridge installation and requiring CKL’s Gisborne team to be available at short notice when construction issues arose.
Surveying for one of NZ’s major mobile-crane lifts
Because the Wairoa River repeatedly flooded over winter, the new bridge had to be built on the riverbank in one complete span; an unusual approach for a structure of this size. To enable the lift, CKL carried out detailed survey work including:
- Verifying the position of specially constructed crane foundations
- Surveying the tracking and turning radius for the Liebherr LR11000 crane
- Confirming the swing radius and clearance required to safely rotate the bridge into position
- Ensuring precise alignment between the bridge structure and its landing points
Monitoring for safe reopening
With the structure now in place, CKL will continue to support the project through weekly monitoring over several months, using electronic theodolite and electronic level equipment to detect:
- Settlement
- Lateral movement
- Structural stability ahead of opening in early 2026
The new single-span design also eliminates the risk associated with mid-river piles, the failure point that caused the collapse of the previous bridge.
A vital connection restored
For local farms, forestry operators, and residents, the reopening of the bridge is a long-awaited step toward normality. Heavy vehicles have faced detours of up to three hours, impacting productivity, travel time, and community access.
CKL is proud to support QRS and the wider project team in delivering a resilient, future-proofed connection for the Wairoa district.
