Client/main contractor: Heb Construction

Location: State Highway 8, close to Lawrence. Bridge over the Clutha River – Mata-Au

Allied Concrete was pleased to be part of project steeped in history, with the construction of the new 195 metre-long Beaumont Bridge in Otago.

The Beaumont Bridge was originally constructed in 1887 as a single lane. After more than a century of service, the bridge was no longer suited to today’s higher traffic volumes including heavier trucks. Its successor is a two-lane bridge, built next to the former. The old bridge will become a walking and cycling link to the nearby Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.

Now, a two-lane bridge crosses the Clutha River (Mata-Au) on State Highway 8, which is the main highway into Central Otago from state Highway 1 on the east coast. Allied Concrete continues to work on this project throughout 2023, with a final completion expected in December 2023.

This project has required a lot of technical input from our tech team to ensure stable mixes that meet requirements, in addition to a huge amount of testing with results returning as expected. During June, barrier pours with 50MPA of self-compacting concrete took place daily followed by expansion joint pours at each end of the bridge, which marked the completion of most of the project. To complement the new bridge and connect to the Otago region’s popular cycle trails, cycleway paths are being poured currently between the nearby Millenium Track cycle way and the Beaumont Hotel, with approximately 200m³ of concrete in the pathways. The team will also lay a tar seal overlay over the entire bridge deck in October, once weather is a bit warmer.

Allied Concrete Balclutha and Alexandra have both supplied concrete for larger pours to ensure continuity, with it being a two hour round trip from either branch. Allied Balcultha supplied 80% of concrete with 20% coming from Alexandra branch who assisted on larger pours and supplying back up staff and fleet where required. Though the location presents its challenges, the teamwork between the Balclutha and Alexandra branches to ensure timely and consistent supply has been exemplary, and we are proud to have contributed to the bridge’s next incarnation and chapter.

Extensive on site and plant testing by Allied concrete technicians to meet all testing requirements.

Supplied: 1,914m3

Mixes supplied: 252, 252P, 301, 402P, 5008CCLS self compacting mix, 4008SSLS  self compacting mix, 402P5% high air content mix for freezing/thawing conditions, 4019T tremie mix

You can read more on the soft opening here – New Beaumont Bridge opens for foot traffic | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)