An excerpt from our local paper - the Northern Advocate.
Whangarei's $32 million bridge across the harbour Te Matau a Pohe has taken out the supreme award at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards in Auckland.
The Lower Hatea River Crossing, which was completed in July last year, is modelled on the traditional Maori fish hook, hei matua, which represents strength, good luck and safe travel over the water. The bridge provides a vital road link to Whangarei City as well as a clearway for marine traffic.
The bridge was created by McConnell Dowell, Transfield Services, New Zealand architect firm Peters and Cheung, top UK bridge architect Knight Architects and UK based Eadon Consulting.
It was up against 38 of the country's top commercial properties vying for awards on Friday night and won the Supreme Award and the Gold and Value Awards over $15 million in the Commercial and Civic section.
The structure was described by the judges as a clear example of an outstanding commercial construction, demonstrating that functionality and aesthetics need not be mutually exclusive.
"The project team - with input from the other side of the world - worked collaboratively to deliver an outstanding result for the Whangarei community. Not only is the bridge practical and economical but it is also striking. Its architectural form blends seamlessly with its function", the judges said.
Te Matau a Pohe was one of 31 Award Winners at the Civic Trust Awards Ceremony in Blackpool, England, in March, and one of only seven international projects to earn awards.
It was commended in the 2014 New Zealand Concrete Society Awards Infrastructure Award, was highly commended in the Roading New Zealand Road Excellence Awards - Z Excellence Award for a Major Project (greater than $25m).
This is a photo I took last month of Te Matau a Pohe as it was being raised to let a yacht through. The pedestrian bridge under construction is in the foreground and in the above photo taken on Saturday it has progressed very well.
Susan I see that your bridge has taken the Supreme Award, One day your own photos will be so treasured, as they showed the bridge in many stages of building. Wonderful to have that in your place. Markets, a great place to be on any day .I do like your blue skies, grey, cloudy, and some drizzle right now. Cheers. Jean
ReplyDeleteI do love the new bridge and the pedestrian one under construction looks pretty awesome as well.
DeleteShowers here over night but another sunny day - it can't last unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteLooks to have been a wonderful day out
It was just an early morning walk. The rest of the day would have been spent in the garden and visiting my hubby in the rest home.
DeleteBeautiful skies, but I didn't spot a 'long white cloud'.
ReplyDeleteIt was still early - they most likely joined up later in the day!!!!
Deletelove the first two pictures of the still water and reflections - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteyour weather looks like it has been nice up your way too. Haven't we been lucky
ReplyDeleteWeather in your place seems to be good to enjoy. All the clippings are good!
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