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Niwa scientists have found the Auckland Harbour Bridge itself helped increase wind speeds to a point at that trucks toppled over.
Niwa scientists now want to look at whether wind breaks erected on the sides of some bridges overseas would be helpful.
Photo: Supplied/ NZTA
Part of the bridge had to be closed for repairs for more than two weeks after two trucks fell over in high winds in 2020. The wind gust measured 127km/h at the top of the bridge arch.
At the time, Niwa scientists had been operating a weather forecasting model known as the Auckland Model to predict wind shifts in the Hauraki Gulf, so scientists Drs Richard Turner and Stuart Moore and modeller Amir Pirooz wondered how accurately it could also have predicted the high winds on the bridge.
Tuesday, 27 April 2021, 9:30 am
When high winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge last
September caused two trucks to topple over, one into a
load-bearing strut, NIWA scientists began thinking about
what role they could play in preventing it from happening
again.
The incidents were described at the time as
being caused by a freak wind gust of about 127km/h measured
at the top of the bridge arch, and meant some of the bridge
lanes had to be closed for more than two weeks for repairs,
resulting in long delays for motorists
At the time,
NIWA scientists had been operating a high-resolution weather
Auckland Harbour Bridge truck crash: Unlikely suspect in mishap that caused two weeks of traffic chaos
27 Apr, 2021 02:52 AM
3 minutes to read
A look at the recent death toll on New Zealand roads.
Video / Nathan Meek
RNZ
Niwa scientists have found the Auckland Harbour Bridge itself helped increase wind speeds to a point where trucks toppled over.
Part of the bridge had to be closed for repairs for more than two weeks after two trucks fell over in high winds in 2020. The wind gust measured 127km/h at the top of the bridge arch.
At the time, Niwa scientists had been operating a weather forecasting model known as the Auckland Model to predict wind shifts in the Hauraki Gulf, so scientists Drs Richard Turner and Stuart Moore and modeller Amir Pirooz wondered how accurately it could also have predicted the high winds on the bridge.