Waitaki District Council contractors began the final stage for installing a laser safety system yesterday, in a bid to avoid further crashes at the bridge.
The $70,000 project began last month when ground sockets for the lasers were laid. The lasers sensors, however, were late to arrive from Germany, and would finish being installed today.
Council roading manager Mike Harrison said the lasers were positioned above the road, and when broken by an "over height" vehicle, they would trigger flashing "stop" and "over height" warning messages. The bridge’s clearance height was set at 3m.
Mr Harrison said the safety system — which came after several crashes under the bridge in the past 18 months— allowed Humber St to go "back to normality".
Heavy vehicles had not been allowed under the overbridge since the last crash, in November last year, when a car was crushed by a large truck that struck the overbridge and rolled on its side.
He hoped it would alleviate the safety concerns there.
"They are the best solution available on the market to us currently and it increases the ability for drivers to avoid height obstacles."
The laser system was in "high demand" throughout New Zealand, and was the most "sympathetic design" for the bridge, leading to the Victorian precinct.
Humber St was closed during work hours while the lasers were installed and would reopen tomorrow.
