A tilting bascule structure, the “J” fish hook pivots to open the bridge for passing vessels. All luminaires are located at low level to reduce any vertical visual impact on the bridge design.
Client Whangarei District Council | Date 2013, 2021 |
Architect Knight Architects | Civil Engineer Peters & Cheung |
Engineering Design Consultant Eadon Consulting | Consulting Engineer Northern Civil |
Contractor MacDow / Transfield JV | Photographer Patrick Reynolds |
Project Team Keith Bradshaw, Carrie Donahue Bremner, Adrien Flouraud | |
Officially opened on Saturday 27 July 2013 as the Te Matau Pohe, the Lower Hatea River Crossing is Whangarei\'s second harbour bridge. With associated walkways and cycleways, it completes a circuit from the Town Basin, along Riverside Drive, over to Port Road and back again.
A competitive tender won with Knight Architects in 2011, the 265m tidal river estuary crossing is a key component in the developing local road network, designed to reduce congestion in the city centre and improve access to Whangarei Heads and the airport.
A tilting bascule structure, the “J” fish hook pivots to open the bridge for passing vessels. All luminaires are located at low level to reduce any vertical visual impact on the bridge design.
Practically, each luminaire was chosen with consideration given to spill light, glare and maintenance. Where possible, luminaire positions and light were used for dual purpose. The highway lighting is provided from low level linear LEDs at the crash barrier, the pedestrian deck lighting from lighting built into the base of the balustrade structure, and the structural “J” lighting from both the base of the balustrades as well as LED projectors. Careful directionality and focusing were part of the design to ensure light was placed where required and any light pollution avoided.
Speirs Major were fully involved in the concept and design development of the Lower Hatea River Crossing and were consulted on the implementation during the construction phases of work.