How is your Bridge Behaving? Advanced Monitoring of New Zealandas Longest Bridges
At 1.76km long, the Rakaia River Bridge is the longest bridge in New Zealand. When combined with the Rangitata River Bridges (identical structural form) these structures comprise 223 spans and over 2.7km of reinforced concrete bridge on State Highway 1S in South Canterbury. The bridges were all constructed circa 1939 and in recent years have become a significant impediment to freight movements in the South Island. To avoid costly bridge strengthening, the New Zealand Transport Agency embarked on an ambitious programme to develop a cost effective, real time Structural Response Monitoring system.