Footings are completed on two Papamoa tsunami escape bridges that have been unusable since the spans were completed last summer.
The bridges in Calypso Drive and Shaun Close were completed this week meaning there is now a crossing point approximately every 500metres over the Papamoa main stormwater drain.
The Papamoa tsunami bridges are now complete.
Tauranga City Council is also undertaking flood modelling to try and predict where potential tsunami flood waters may travel.
The modelling is still being refined and will eventually shape decisions about evacuation routes and community assembly locations in the event of a tsunami. A project to install evacuation route signs for the community is also planned.
Work on the bridges stalled for several months because of a design change introduced after the tenders were called.
Project manager Cameron Warr says the bridges were raised slightly so they can also serve as evacuation routes in severe floods. It meant more fill was required for the abutments, which required a renegotiation for that part of the contract.
The bridges are three metres wide allowing enough space for pedestrians and cyclists, but not vehicles. The project was due for completion at the end of the financial year.
The bridges provide access over the drain that lies parallel to the East Papamoa residential development.
There will be pedestrian links to the escape bridges from the Papamoa side, but for now the bridges will provide access onto the open country between Papamoa East, and the Tauranga Eastern Link highway construction site.
The city council's tsunami awareness was focussed by the Japan tsunami of March 11, 2011. The event, and attention on tsunami drills, led to the granting of funding for the bridges, and to dusting off plans for a system of tsunami warning sirens.
There are about 20 road and foot bridges across the drain between Arataki and Eastern Papamoa.
The exit from one of the bridges encounters a farm fence, but there will be a Taranaki gate installed in the next week or so, says Cameron.
7 comments
Congratulations, BUT
Posted on 12-07-2013 11:00 | By Papamoaner
A job well done, but what about the sirens so people know when to use the bridges? Further procrastination by waffling on about cell phone broadcasting, is now imminent. What is the use of cellphone warnings when many old folk will have phones switched off at night, or flat batteries. others will simply ignore texts till morning, or not hear them at all. Sirens will seldom if ever, be ignored. Is this rocket science, or just simple logic? Or is it just another excuse for doing nothing? Thank you to council though for building the escape routes and bridges. Could you use the same energy to get your dormant colleagues off their backsides?
Weird?
Posted on 12-07-2013 11:09 | By YOGI BEAR
A Tsunami maybe will be here once in 5,000 years of a magnitude that maybe requires an evacuation. So the "Bridge to know where?" has little use until then but as it is built of timber will not likely last 20 years, maybe 30 at best. best use in between is as a "hide" for duck season.
Monstrosities & Ridiculous Overkill
Posted on 12-07-2013 11:17 | By ROCCO
Look more like very expensive viewing platforms than functional practical safety aids.Still what else would you expect from the pointy heads at planet TCC.Little if any residents input to this project.
Map?
Posted on 12-07-2013 14:19 | By sojourner
It would be useful if SunLive could publish a map of the area with marks where those bridges are.
Talking Heads......
Posted on 12-07-2013 15:37 | By yikes61
We're on a road to nowhere...... now how will we let them they know there's a big wave coming?????? Lets have another meeting with chocolate biscuits and a cup of tea to discuss.......AGAIN!
Posted on 12-07-2013 15:37 | By whatsinaname
what a joke. how many people can cross this bridge at once.......Pathetic. bridge going over storm water drains.......... Poooooooooof. another waste of tax payers money.
Waste of MONEY
Posted on 12-07-2013 19:21 | By Blessed
You need to get as high up or as far inland as u can, A tsunami is not going to wait for you to run to a bridge when it is traveling at 200ks and hour, if an earthquake hits and u cant stand, do your best to get ur Backside to the hills, FAST..
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