Work has started above the ground on the State Highway 25A Taparahi bridge, with the first two structures visible at Pier B. 

Teams have poured the blinding concrete at Abutment D and have landed both Abutment A and Abutment D reinforcement cages, says a Waka Kotahi NZTA spokesperson. 

"The team is now fixing and forming the cages for our first abutment pour later in the week.

Concrete pile pours at Pier B are completed, which included the deepest pile to date at 41 metres.

"This is double the depth of the other piles [about 22 metres deep]. These piles have already been cropped and undergone integrity testing.

"The team has started installing the column cages for the bridge, two of four have been installed at Pier B. We can now see the structure appearing out of the slip floor."

Looking to the east (Hikuai side) with pile casings on the ground. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

At Pier C, the team has completed the working platform and moved their piling rig into position.

"We’ve drilled out the four piles and poured the first one. Once we’ve finished the remaining three pours, this will mark the completion of the Taparahi bridge piling activity.

"This means, our piling rig and crew will be demobilising and head off-site to another project."

Off-site, the steel bridge girders continue to make their way through the paint booth in preparation for transport to site later this month.

Also in production are the precast concrete elements and the rails which will run along the top of the bridge barriers.