Rangitahi Peninsula Bridge & Causeway, Raglan
Fulton Hogan
Raglan, New Zealand
Creating vital connection to a new urban sustainable neighbourhood
Rangitahi is a spectacular sustainably minded 117-hectare residential and commercial development located on Raglan Harbour / Whaingaroa in coastal Waikato. Until recently, the private farmland and a small number of homes located on Rangitahi Peninsula were directly accessible from Raglan township only via a narrow wooden pedestrian bridge and a causeway designed for low tide use only.
Fulton Hogan engaged Calibre Built Environment to undertake preliminary and detailed civil and structural design works and construction monitoring services on the bridge and causeway aspects of the Rangitahi development.
Our concept design saves $1m
Having originally assisted Fulton Hogan with submitting their winning tender for this design and build project, our team developed a bridge design which utilises the most economical number of spans as well as standardised pre-cast concrete beam units. Our concept bridge design has resulted in approximately $1m in savings for Rangitahi compared to the high-level design the client originally had in mind.
Acknowledging history, genealogy and connections
Local history, genealogy and connections between people and cultures have been important themes in progressing the bridge’s design and construction. Wooden beams from the old pedestrian bridge have been reused to create four pou (pillars), with two at each end of the new bridge. The pou have been carved by local mana whenua and are shaped like turuturu (traditional weaving pegs). A dawn karakia and blessing by a local kaumatua marked the bridge’s official opening, while the coming together of people from either end of the new bridge into the middle symbolised a stronger connection between Rangitahi and Raglan.
Image: Rangitahi Ltd