8 Aug 2017

Part of New Brighton Pier will be closed to the public from the middle of this month to allow repairs to the popular landmark to be carried out.

Contractors have been working since the start of this year on repairing the pier’s earthquake-damaged support columns.

Contractors working on the New Brighton Pier.

Contractors working on the New Brighton Pier.

So far they have managed to do the work with minimal impact on public access to the pier but they have now reached a point in the project where the tides will make carrying out the work from the beach impossible.

“We had hoped to keep the pier open throughout the course of the repairs but as work has gone on the contractors have encountered a number of issues that have forced us to reassess our approach,’’ said Christchurch City Council City Services General Manager David Adamson.

“As most of the work is happening below sea level the contractors have to drive caissons, which are like segmented water-tight tubes, firmly into the seabed. Unfortunately they have had limited success sinking the caissons using compressed air and they are now having to use jetted water to mobilise the sand,’’ Mr Adamson said.

“That means they need to have additional pumps, tanks and hoses on the pier deck. Another problem they have encountered is the 10 tonne loading limit on the access ramps to the pier.

“It means the modified excavator they need to use for the next stage of the project can’t travel on and off the pier each day – it needs to be lifted up by crane and remain there until the works are finished.

Repair work under way on New Brighton Pier.

Repairs to the pier started at the beginning of the year.

“The amount of the equipment that will be operating on the pier means it is no longer safe or feasible to continue to keep the full length of the pier open to the public.’’

Mr Adamson said the outer two-thirds of the 300m-long pier would close from August 14. The closed area would be gradually reduced as the support columns were repaired.

“We’re hoping that every eight weeks or so we can re-open another 60m section of the pier. We know the pier is a popular place for families so the working areas will be made safe and re-opened to the public during school holidays,’’ Mr Adamson said.

The contactor was also working with the Council’s events team to find a way to facilitate the annual Guy Fawkes spectacular.

“We know people will be disappointed they won’t be able to walk the full length of the pier but we have to put public safety first,’’ Mr Adamson said.

The pier repairs are scheduled to be completed by March 2018.