The Hauraki Rail Trail – Thames to Waihi, Paeroa to Matamata
Project location
Hauraki Plains, Waikato
Client name
Hauraki District Council / Matamata Piako District Council
Services provided by Frame Group
Feasibility Studies and Options Assessment
Solutioning, Concept Design and Visualisation
Detailed Design and Engineering
Consents Management
Construction Management
Partners
Walkway Solutions Limited - Construction Contractor
The Hauraki Rail Trail is a Grade 2 recreation cycleway developed as part of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails project. The trail follows historic railway formations and embankments between Thames, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Waikino and Waihi, providing a largely flat and accessible riding experience that has attracted significant visitor numbers and delivered ongoing economic benefits to the district. The current trail is approximately 67 kilometres long and extends to Waikino.
Frame Group was engaged to undertake route selection and develop bridge solutions across the trail corridor, designing approximately 50 bridges to cross streams of varying size, drainage ditches, farm tracks and access routes. The scope included multiple bridge types, including several suspension bridges and multi-span glulam beam bridges, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure such as an existing walkway over a steel truss road bridge and the design of an underpass at a farm access road to maintain safe separation between trail users and vehicles.
All bridges were designed using locally sourced, renewable plantation timber throughout their construction. The use of local materials enabled the employment of local tradespeople, added value to the surrounding communities and minimised the environmental footprint of the project, while delivering robust and practical structures suited to the rural environment.
The practical and efficient bridge designs were recognised by the New Zealand Timber Design Society, with Frame Group receiving the 2012 Timber Design Sustainability Award for its work on the Hauraki Rail Trail.
