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Pier pressure: A Smith crane holds a replacement pier on the Opihi River rail bridge following catastrophic floodwater damage.

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1 August 2013

Pier pressure: Smith Civil Engineering to the rescue

Pier 28 of the existing rail bridge over the Opihi River suffered catastrophic collapse on Monday 17th June 2013 following flooding and high river levels causing undermining of the support piles.

The team at Smith Civil Engineering worked 24-hours-a-day for a week to get the bridge repaired, as the railway line was effectively cut-off following the floods.

The works undertaken by Smith Civil Engineering included supply and installation of steel casing, reinforced concrete bored piles and reinforced concrete pier caps.

Having suitable false work and materials on-hand allowed the temporary repair to be undertaken in such a manner that permanent repair was able to be undertaken within weeks, minimising disruption to rail traffic.

A Smith crane (pictured) undertook lifting and re-fixing of existing supports and removal of temporary structures.

“A collaborative approach with KiwiRail staff and engineers had a site inspection and primary design / method completed within hours and equipment simultaneously on its way to site. Our 'can do' attitude and highly-experienced team combined with our significant plant & equipment resources had the bridge open within days," Tim Smith said.

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