Bridge Street Bridge lift
Christchurch Bridge Lift: A Landmark Moment for HTC
When the Bridge Street bridge in South New Brighton was lifted in December 2013, it wasn’t just a construction project — it was a milestone for New Zealand engineering.
In under 24 hours, a bridge weighing thousands of tons was raised using cutting-edge hydraulic technology, marking the first operation of its kind in New Zealand or Australia.
A Lift Like No Other
The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) and Fulton Hogan partnered with HTC to deliver the project.
72 hydraulic rams worked together to spread more than 7,200 tons of lifting power.
The entire process was coordinated from a single touch-screen display.
The system used was the Durapac SyncMaster Synchronised Lifting System.
What used to require dozens of workers with walkie-talkies was now handled by a computer-controlled system — safer, faster, and more precise.
Why It Mattered
Bridge Street wasn’t HTC’s first lift (we’ve helped raise Houses of Parliament and even shifted Wellington’s Museum Hotel), but it was our most complex to date.
More lifting points meant less stress on the structure, which was essential for repairing the bridge’s earthquake-damaged foundations. This project highlighted how technology is reshaping construction and infrastructure work in New Zealand.
The People Behind the Project
The team was led by Daniel Brice, who at the time was HTC’s Christchurch Branch Manager, supported by four other team members. Industry veteran Stuart Smith, who had worked on the original bridge in 1980, even came out of retirement to advise on the planning.
“It’s an exciting time for HTC,” said Brice. “We’ve been getting enquiries about this project from across New Zealand and even overseas.”
A Step Forward for Communities — and for HTC
For South New Brighton residents, the lift meant restoring a vital route to the CBD after two years of disruption.
“Our investment in five Durapac systems is not just about this bridge,” said HTC Managing Director Robb Huskinson. “It’s about building capability in New Zealand and opening opportunities across Australia, where no other company has a system of this scale available for hire.”
The equipment is portable too — all five units fit into a single shipping container, ready to be deployed wherever needed.
Sharing the Moment
Ahead of the lift, Fulton Hogan and HTC welcomed the media and industry professionals on-site. They showcased the technology and explained how it’s being used in Christchurch’s rebuild and in large infrastructure projects nationwide.
The Legacy
The Bridge Street bridge lift wasn’t only about restoring a crossing — it was about proving what’s possible.
With SyncMaster technology, HTC now leads the way in synchronised lifting across Australasia, delivering safer, smarter, and more efficient solutions for tomorrow’s infrastructure.
