:: Friday, April 01, 2005
UPDATE APRIL FOOL
Here is our BOP Times April Fool for 2005 :-)
Historic bridge may solve crisis
Bay of Plenty Times - 01.04.2005
A COUNCIL committee is exploring the possibility of buying the historic one-lane Kopu Bridge to use as an alternative to widening the harbour bridge.
The Kopu Bridge, the scene of summer traffic jams on the Coromandel Peninsula, is set to be replaced over the coming winter months with a new two-lane 480m bridge.
Tenders are being being called for the purchase of the bridge and Tauranga City Council's bridge procurement officer Lirpa Loof has already held preliminary discussions with Transit NZ.
Mr Loof and the council's transport committee see the Kopu Bridge as a cut-price way to solve the traffic congestion problems currently being experienced by the city and a cheaper alternative to the one currently on the table.
"The upfront cost of buying the bridge, transportation and reassembly shouldn't cost the taxpayer much more than $10m-$15m which is obviously a substantial saving on what is currently proposed.
"Obviously, there would be enormous disruption in getting the bridge here but we feel the cost saving could be worth it."
While the Kopu Bridge would only provide one additional lane, Mr Loof said the committee's intention was to have one lane travelling either way with the middle lane alternating according to peak hour traffic flows.
Last week council voted 8-2 to reintroduce tolls on to the harbour bridge meaning a final decision on tolling the $210 million Harbour Link expressway is less than five months away.
Debate now moves to Wellington on whether Tauranga motorists are tolled for up to 25 years to pay half the project's building costs.
The four-lane expressway from Takitimu Drive to Hewletts Rd will be considered by Transit's board next Wednesday .
Mr Loof said the imminent Harbour Link decision meant action on the Kopu Bridge needs to be taken as soon as possible.
The single-lane, historic Kopu Bridge over the Waihou River near Thames has been unable to cope with the traffic flows for years and at peak times motorists can sit in their cars for well over an hour waiting to cross.
Transit is working through funding arrangements for the $30m dual-lane replacement bridge and is seeking to recoup some of the costs by on-selling the existing bridge.
If the Kopu Bridge deal comes off, Mr Loof said the council would also explore the potential it offered for opening to allow larger craft through.
"If we do succeed in bringing this bridge to Tauranga, we are aware that it does open in the middle," he said.
"It would certainly be worth considering for the harbour bridge as it would open up commercial development possibilities for the inner harbour."
Kopu Bridge
Thames 
Historic bridge may solve crisis
Bay of Plenty Times - 01.04.2005
A COUNCIL committee is exploring the possibility of buying the historic one-lane Kopu Bridge to use as an alternative to widening the harbour bridge.
The Kopu Bridge, the scene of summer traffic jams on the Coromandel Peninsula, is set to be replaced over the coming winter months with a new two-lane 480m bridge.
Tenders are being being called for the purchase of the bridge and Tauranga City Council's bridge procurement officer Lirpa Loof has already held preliminary discussions with Transit NZ.
Mr Loof and the council's transport committee see the Kopu Bridge as a cut-price way to solve the traffic congestion problems currently being experienced by the city and a cheaper alternative to the one currently on the table.
"The upfront cost of buying the bridge, transportation and reassembly shouldn't cost the taxpayer much more than $10m-$15m which is obviously a substantial saving on what is currently proposed.
"Obviously, there would be enormous disruption in getting the bridge here but we feel the cost saving could be worth it."
While the Kopu Bridge would only provide one additional lane, Mr Loof said the committee's intention was to have one lane travelling either way with the middle lane alternating according to peak hour traffic flows.
Last week council voted 8-2 to reintroduce tolls on to the harbour bridge meaning a final decision on tolling the $210 million Harbour Link expressway is less than five months away.
Debate now moves to Wellington on whether Tauranga motorists are tolled for up to 25 years to pay half the project's building costs.
The four-lane expressway from Takitimu Drive to Hewletts Rd will be considered by Transit's board next Wednesday .
Mr Loof said the imminent Harbour Link decision meant action on the Kopu Bridge needs to be taken as soon as possible.
The single-lane, historic Kopu Bridge over the Waihou River near Thames has been unable to cope with the traffic flows for years and at peak times motorists can sit in their cars for well over an hour waiting to cross.
Transit is working through funding arrangements for the $30m dual-lane replacement bridge and is seeking to recoup some of the costs by on-selling the existing bridge.
If the Kopu Bridge deal comes off, Mr Loof said the council would also explore the potential it offered for opening to allow larger craft through.
"If we do succeed in bringing this bridge to Tauranga, we are aware that it does open in the middle," he said.
"It would certainly be worth considering for the harbour bridge as it would open up commercial development possibilities for the inner harbour."
Kopu Bridge
Thames
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