Council wins prestigious global award for two iconic Hamilton bridges

Two iconic Hamilton bridges connecting city’s new neighbourhood of Peacocke, have won prestigious global award for the city Council.

The bridges, Te Ara Pekapeka and Taurapa outshone competition from across the globe to win the prestigious Eugene C. Figg Jr. Medal at the International Bridge Conference Awards in Pittsburgh today (16 July).

The bridges are not just impressive feats of engineering but vital infrastructure that connect the city to the new growth area of Peacocke – which will eventually be home to up to 20,000 Hamiltonians. 

The annual International Bridge Conference awards medals to recognise individuals and projects of distinction. The last time a New Zealand bridge was recognised at the Conference was the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge in New Plymouth in 2011. 

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said this was justifiably a proud moment for Hamiltonians.   

“We didn’t build it to win an award, we built it to meet requirements to unlock land for growth and we worked side-by-side with Government to fund it and deliver it on time.”

The four-lane Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge, surrounding transport network, and the three waters infrastructure are all essential components ensuring the successful development of this area. 

  “The award is a bonus and should be celebrated.” Mayor Southgate said. 

This is the second time Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge has been recognised on an international stage in recent months, receiving a Special Mention at the Architizer A+ Awards in May. The project also took home national wins at the New Zealand Planning Institute Annual Awards and Apopo Asset Management Excellence Awards for leadership in the respective fields.