What has been touted as New Zealand’s biggest crane lifting operation got underway on Tauranga’s Harbour Link Project today.
A 70 tonne beam was lifted onto the old harbour bridge as construction workers prepare the bridge for widening at the Tauranga end.

Civil engineer Tim Davison watches calmly as the 70 tonnes beam is lifted on the old harbour bridge.

The beam, which was made at Mount Maunganui, was transported onto the bridge early this morning and will be used as the foundation for the extended ramp onto the harbour bridge.
Two cranes, which are part of the McLeod Cranes fleet, lifted the mammoth steel beam into place.

McLeod Cranes operations manager Scott McLeod says the job is as big as it gets.
“I’ve been working with cranes for 10 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.
It’s quite complicated and there was a quiet nervousness,” says Scott.
He says he first heard about the job two years ago and plans began about 12 months ago.

Once the beam is layed on the outskirts of the bridge, the extended ramp will be built on top.
It is expected to be open with the rest of the old harbour bridge near Christmas.