Tirohanga Whanui Bridge – anti-throw and fall protection mesh screens

About the project

When the NZ Transport Agency commissioned a footbridge to pass over Auckland’s Northern Motorway at Albany, SRS Group and partners Ronstan Tensile Architecture stepped in to help.

Tirohanga Whanui Bridge, which means ‘panoramic view’ in Te Reo Maori, sits at the top of Spencer Ridge, connecting Albany Westfield Shopping Centre and business precinct with a busy residential area. SRS Group was engaged to undertake the complex installation of detailed mesh panels and connections in two sections; to act as anti-throw and fall arrest protection above the bridge deck, and to enclose the services area below the deck.

Our expert installers worked closely with Ronstan, who engineered, designed and detailed the mesh panels and connections. Their high-quality stainless steel Carl Stahl X-Tend Mesh was specified for the job, and they also supplied ACS3-SSM16 cable systems for the top cables, each with two joiners.

The result is an attractive, functional footbridge that has quickly become an iconic local landmark. Highly visible from a distance, its distinctive red steel colouring and stainless steel mesh make it an eye-catching sight for pedestrians, cyclists and passing motorway traffic below.

To learn more about Safety and Fall Protection mechanisms, download the whitepaper from Ronstan.

Design Expertise

In 2020, SRS Group was hand-picked to join an exclusive and expert panel of design consultants for Auckland System Management (ASM). We work with Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Panuku Development Auckland, offering our design expertise in the production of bridges across regional transportation systems. Our tensile mesh panel installations have been used on iconic bridges and transport network systems across the wider Auckland region, providing striking yet functional anti-throw and fall protection safety measures.

Architect: Wells Architects / Planners Ltd
Engineer: Aurecon
Client: NZ Transport Agency
Completion date: Early 2019

Banner image @ Mark Scowen Photography