Airlifting in a replacement bridge for the Coppermine Trail

The August weather event caused damage to the part of the Coppermine Trail that follows the Maitai raw water pipeline access bench. When Council repaired the damaged pipeline, they allowed space for the recreational bridge to be reinstated.  

Because of the weight of this bridge (2.8 tonnes) and the location, the only option was to use a helicopter with a high weight limit (The Black Hawk can take loads of up to 3.2 tonnes). Lifting the bridge in place took just four minutes.  

We also took the opportunity to airlift in a rock crusher machine that is designed to process rock on-site to help keep trails smooth. This is vital for the upper sections of the Coppermine Trail as we are unable to bring in material to this area due to the sensitive nature of the unique ultramafic environment.  

Over 5000 riders used the Coppermine Trail last year. A 42km loop from Nelson city, it’s considered one of New Zealand’s Great Rides and by reinstating the bridge we can shortly remove the detour that’s been in place since the August 2022 weather event.  

Alec Louverdis Group Manager Infrastructure says with no easy access to the remote location and a very heavy bridge, a helicopter was the best solution.   

“The August 2022 weather event damaged many of our trails that are well used by the public and alongside the work we are doing on roading and infrastructure, repairing these trails has been a focus of Council. With 98% of our trails now open to the public, today’s operation puts us one step closer to having a completely open trail network for residents and visitors to enjoy. Thank you to Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust for managing this project and
Wenham Contracting who oversaw today’s operation.”   

The cost of reinstating this bridge ($165,000 including fabrication and transport) is being met jointly through insurance and a grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Cycle Trails funding.