b'bridge featureTrestle Leg Series Boffa Miskell and the NZTA project team worked with localKaimataara o Wai Manawa below and left: KaimataaraWai Manawa, Auckland.ThenorthsideofAucklandsHarbourBridgeservesmanyiwi representatives and literary experts to select the appropriateIt may not be a true bridge in that it doesnt cross a gap, butResene Resene Resenefunctions: road access to local dwellings, underside bridge accesswriters and excerpts, and visual artist and typographer CatherineKaimataaraWaiManawadoesstillmakeanimportantPutty Go Ben Alabasterfor essential maintenance works to the structure and a gatewayGriffiths interpreted them onto the bridge columns in a style thatconnection.ThestructureprovidesavaluablelinkbetweenResene Resenetoanimportantreservearea,includingTeOnewaP/Stokesevokes the painted names of large ships. themaincommercialstreetinAucklandsBirkenheadTwine SiamPoint. From this vantage point, there are expansive views of theThepaintsystemandapplicationmethodneededtoneighbourhoodandviewsoverLeRoysBushReserveandResene Resene ReseneWaitemata Harbour framed by the bridge structure overhead; abecompatiblewiththebridgesurface,includingtemplatethe greater Waitemat Harboura vista that was previouslyTwister Punga Squallplace for celebration of the natural environment as well as culturalapplication to ensure crispness of the lettering. It also neededinaccessible. Now, Rangitoto, North Head, the Eastern Bays,Resene Reseneand engineering heritage. tobeextremelyhighperformancetoensurelongevityinathe Harbour Bridge and the city centre are all within sight. Lichen TumbleweedDuring the under bridge upgrades of the Princes Street area,demanding environment that includes harsh marine conditions,The public deck is split into two levels, explains Craig Moller a unique piece of public art was added. Known as the Trestle Legpublic access and bridge maintenance activities. Resene Uracrylof Moller Architects. The upper-level deck provides elevated Series, excerpts of poetry and prose were wrapped around eight403wasselectedtowithstandthisdemandingenvironment,views towards the harbour while the lower deck at street level of the eastern trestle legs of the west box girder. The project was awith a gloss finish that contrasts beautifully with the matt bridgeinterfaces with the footpath and Birkenhead Avenue. The two unique opportunity to showcase important literature in a publiclysurface beneath that allows the colours to take on new life in thelevelsareseparatedbyasetofbleachersthatoffercasual accessible location and celebrate writers of national significancereflected light. Resene Cinder was used for the majority of theseating, which doubles as an auditorium for any performances who have local connections to Auckland/Tmaki Makaurau andtext, providing sharp contrast to the lighter grey of the structuralandactivitiesonthelowerdeck,andtherampallowsfor the North Shore. steel while Resene Flame Red was used as a highlight colour toaccessibility for all ages and abilities. A cafe sits at the southern emphasise a few words from each excerpt. edge of the public deck, activating the space, while maintaining Theextractsofpoetrywrapthemselvesaroundthesteela discrete identity that doesnt distract from those taking in columns with the fixed line length determining the shape andthe views.formofeach,requiringthereadertomovewiththework,CraigsaystheResenecolourselectionsrespondtothe tospendtimewiththewords,thesoundstheymakeandprojects context, particularly the Le Roys Bush Reserve and themeaningsthatareformed.Anditinjectsatouchofnatural environment. The hues were chosen in consultation with artisticflairtoastructurethatsfarmoreutilitarianthanitManu Whenua and the artist engaged on the project, Reuben is elegant. Kirkwood. The colours for the caf buildings cladding, window and door openings and the steel support structure for the public specifier Boffa Miskell, www.boffamiskell.co.nz deck provide a neutral backdrop, including stanchions in Resene art and image Catherine Griffiths, www.catherinegriffiths.co.nz Squall and panels and plaster walls in Resene Alabaster.build Total Bridge Services above: Hamiltons Victoria Bridge is coated in Altex Coatings Haze Grey. Butwhatsmoststrikingisthemulti-colouredpainted painting SignRight, www.signright.co.nz; Designcraft balustrade lining the ramp on the northern edge with a series Victoria Bridge of steel fins. Eight colours were selected to reflect those found coating thickness of 200 microns thick over existing coatingsinthenaturalbushsurroundings:ReseneGoBen,Resene Over the years, Altex Coatings has left its mark on over half aand 260 microns over bare metal. Previous inspections of thePunga, Resene Putty, Resene Twister, Resene Siam, Resene dozen bridges that span the Waikato River. The oldest of thesepaintwork in 1989 found it to be in good condition, so the bridgeTumbleweed, Resene Twine and Resene Lichen.is Hamiltons Victoria Bridge, which was first painted with Altexextension two years later saw the successful formulation andAchallengingelementoftheprojectwasthatwhilethe Coatings protective finishes in 1978. With traffic levels in excessapplication of an Altex Coatings modern zinc/epoxy/urethane- site is level where it meets the street, it drops sharply down a of 27,250 vehicles per day, it was strengthened and had a newbased coating system on the new 5520m 2orthotropic deck. steep bank at the other end. This also limited the directions you deck and handrails added in 1991. Coatings specified for bothThe 152 metre long steel structure is a three pin arch bridgecould access it. A large steel structure coming up from the bank thesemodificationsandongoingmaintenancerequirementsconnecting the southern end of Hamiltons CBD with Hamiltonprovided a level platform to construct the deck and suspend itarchitectural and colour specification Moller Architects,have always been Altex Coatings products. East. It features a two-lane carriageway and footpath. Openedover the bush below. www.mollerarchitects.comabove: The Trestle Leg Series won Resene The first and second coats on the bridge saw Altex Zinkex 100,in 1910, the bridge has an Historic Places Trust classification. AsWhiletheprojectmayhavehadalimitedbudget,thebuild Downer, www.downergroup.coma Resene Total Colour Display + Flame Red Resene a 90 percent zinc coating, applied as a spot primer to all exposedHamilton City Council engineer Cliff Boyt says, we couldnt pullselectionofsimplematerialsandrobustpaintedfinishespainting Sharp Decorating Solutions, www.sharpdecorating.co.nz (structure); Product Colour Maestro Award. Cinder Amediate Engineering, www.amediate.co.nz (balustrade)It features poetry and prose in metal followed by a full build coat of Altex Chem~Bar 3500it down even if we wanted to. Its now a permanent, attractivehashelpedittobecomeafavouritefeatureoftheartist Reuben KirkwoodResene Cinder and Resene Flame Red. primer and Altex Chem~Bar 900 as a finish coat to give a totalfeature of Hamilton. Birkenhead streetscape.images Moller Architects46 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 47'