Cuba Street Overbridge is an ageing piece of infrastructure, at nearly 100 years old. It is a vital link providing a key North / South route for traffic, freight and emergency services. It is also a key route for use in the event of an evacuation.
In August 2024, following assessment of the bridge, it was decided to progress with maintenance, monitoring and strengthening of the bridge.
Further live load testing has shown the road is safe for current traffic (including heavy vehicles) but futureproofing work should be completed to ensure we have a resilient road network.
What we’re doing
We are now ready to move to the next phase of work which includes investigation work to test ground conditions and maintenance work on the bridge.
Works commenced from late October, requiring localised road closures on an offshoot of Cuba Street and a small section of Wakefield Street that runs under the bridge.
None of the planned works requires the section of Cuba Street that runs over the bridge to be closed, however, there will be a 30km/h speed limit in place along part of Cuba Street during the works.
Site 1 - investigation and testing work
- Drilling and anchor testing on an offshoot of Cuba Street, 151-161 Cuba Street (see map for location) is now complete.
Week starting 29 October: Site 2 - maintenance work
- Concrete repairs to the bridge. Localised road closure along Wakefield Street under the bridge with 24/7 traffic management (see map for location).
- Contractors will be onsite for 3-4 weeks (weather dependent), Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm and Saturdays, 9am-4pm (if required).
- No impacts to access for residents and businesses beyond use of detour routes.
- Speed reduction along Cuba Street as they work on the footpaths over the bridge.
- Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained at all times including alternate access to the footpaths over the bridge (one side worked on at a time).
- We’ve worked with Metlink to move the bus stop for Wellington bound train replacements (see map for location).
Further works on the bridge will be done later once testing and maintenance has been completed.