And so it has happened. After more than a year of sorting through building consents and engineering requirements, no more wet toes, ankles … thighs …
It doesn’t happen often, but when the Rameka Creek gets it into its head to flood, it can REALLY go to town.
The bridge over the Rameka Creek to Great Expectations has been built!
The actual building only took nine days. But those were nine totally full-on days.
Many more people were involved than are shown in this selection of photos. And to everyone who helped out – many, many thanks and big thumbs up to all of you.
So, here’s a taste of the action that took place over the week:
First up was measuring out exactly where the bridge needed to go …
Ricky Ward checks that everything lines up true for the bridge across Rameka Creek.
Then it was a case of digging ….
Caver Phil Castle is back in his element – digging into the earth as he helps prepare the foundations trench on the bridge site.
And pumping …
Corina Ward helps pump water from the trench.
And digging – did we mention digging?
Brian Sowman and Andrew Smith knuckle in for just a bit more digging.
Measuring, sorting and sawing timber …
Andy Cole gets into the swing of things at the old mill site next to the creek.
But there was still a bit of time to stand back and assess exactly what it was we were doing.
Martin Langley keeps calm and smiles his way through all the hustle and bustle of bridge prep.
And then it was time for the concrete to be poured for the foundations.
Richard Green arrived with the concrete for the foundations on a brilliant morning – perfect for setting.
Then first the piles and later the beams were lifted into place …
Friday was a wet day, but the 12-metre-long beams got lifted into place anyway.
And after that, it was a case of all hands on deck as volunteers came flocking to help hammer, saw, measure, grease, measure, saw, and measure again, bolt, hammer, dig … all the usual things one does to put a bridge in place.
Evan McCarney said this was the hardest holiday he’d ever had. Most of us agreed.Damian Stones and his son Zac prepared an awesome track to the bridge.David Bennett and Robin Dawson measured twice and cut only once to get all the decking timber exactly to size.The weekend round-up involved finishing the retaining wall at the base of Great Expectations, building a ramp to the other side of the bridge and putting in place the decking and then handrails.Stuart Palmer and Karyn Burgess worked hard to sort out a handrail for the ramp onto the bridge – and it wasn’t easy!Andrew McLellan treated the sawed timber ends while Brett Whiteley and Helen Spring worked on the bridge decking.
And finally the bridge was complete … Ta-daaa!
Fil and Albie Burgers put the final touches of stain to the bridge across the River Rameka.
