The Anniversary Weekend floods of January 2023 washed away the single lane bridge on Mill Flat Road at Coatesville, cutting off around 200 residents. A one lane Bailey bridge, assembled in six days, restored emergency access. Auckland Transport's permanent replacement is a two lane bridge designed to withstand the next extreme flood: built at the level of the old crossing, engineered to overtop rather than fail, with break away railings to shed load safely. RCP joined in 2024 to review the design and procurement documents for constructability and fit with the funding conditions, and to help build the Crown funding case, before taking on the Engineer to the Contract role through construction. The bridge is being built in halves beside the Bailey bridge, keeping the road open throughout.
Client side review, assurance and contract leadership across two Auckland Transport Flood Recovery projects.
Auckland Transport Flood Recovery Programme
Clients
Auckland Transport
National Infrastructure Funding and Financing
RCP delivered client side oversight on two Auckland Transport storm recovery projects: a washed out Coatesville bridge and a landslip severed peninsula road, both rebuilt with Crown recovery funding under independent RCP assurance.
The 2023 severe weather events, the Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, caused widespread damage across Auckland's local transport network. Auckland Transport ran its response through its own Flood Recovery Programme, backed by Crown funding under NIFF's Cyclone Recovery Programme. That funding carried its own assurance and value for money conditions. RCP provided the client side review and contract leadership needed to meet them: testing design suitability, constructability and programme; scrutinising procurement for value; and acting as Engineer to the Contract through construction, certifying the milestones that released Crown funding.
Mill Flat Road Bridge
Manukau Heads Lighthouse Road
Cyclone Gabrielle triggered a major landslip on Manukau Heads Road on the Āwhitu Peninsula, sending around 90,000 cubic metres of insitu material down an 80 metre slope and severing both lanes over roughly 50 metres, cutting off public access to the Manukau Heads Lighthouse. The rebuild realigned the road about 20 metres back from the slip onto firmer ground, with new stormwater culverts, slope reprofiling and planting to manage water flow and stabilise the hillside. RCP reviewed the functional design and construction approach, supported procurement and acted as Engineer to the Contract through the build, providing the oversight the Crown funding required. The road reopened in August 2025, restoring access to the lighthouse.
