Ground Engineering
Single-span bridge construction using Geosynthetically Confined Soil technology, at a fraction of the cost and time of conventional methods, with simpler consenting.
New Zealand has thousands of single-span bridge crossings on rural roads, farm access tracks and secondary infrastructure. Many are ageing, weight-restricted, or approaching the end of their design life — but the cost of conventional replacement, with its piled abutments, formed concrete and complex consenting, is hard to justify for a lightly trafficked crossing.
GSI NZ builds single-span bridges using Geosynthetically Confined Soil (GCS) abutment technology, an engineered reinforced soil system that provides the required bearing capacity and structural performance without conventional concrete foundations or deep piles. Once the GCS abutments are constructed on each bank, a prefabricated or in-place bridge deck is affixed and the crossing is ready for traffic.
SUITED TO
GSI NZ CAPABILITY
THE GSI DIFFERENCE
Step 1
We assess the crossing location, characterise the ground conditions, and design the GCS abutments to meet the required load capacity for the intended use. Span lengths, deck type, and access constraints are all factored into the design.
Step 2
GCS abutments are constructed on each bank, typically well back from the stream to minimise waterway disturbance and simplify consenting. Construction uses compact equipment with minimal site disturbance.
Step 3
A prefabricated or constructed-in-place deck is attached to the completed abutments and the bridge is commissioned for traffic. Full structural documentation is provided on completion.
CAPABILITY
GSI NZ's GCS bridge construction approach allows single-span crossings to be built faster and at lower cost than conventional methods. The abutments are constructed back from the waterway on each bank, a deck is fitted, and the crossing is open for traffic — with minimal environmental disturbance and significantly simpler consenting than conventional bridge construction. This makes it ideal for rural road bridges, farm access crossings, and secondary infrastructure where construction budget is constrained but a permanent solution is required.
Where an existing bridge has failing abutments that can be rehabilitated rather than replaced, our Bridge Abutment Repair service offers a further cost saving — retaining the existing structure and returning it to service without full reconstruction.
GSIBRIDGE™ Overview →GROUND ENGINEERING
Ground improvement and geotechnical works for the AMETI Eastern Busway transport corridor.
View Project →GROUND ENGINEERING
Infrastructure ground works for the Clevedon–Kawakawa road corridor.
View Project →GROUND ENGINEERING
CFA piling and GCS wall on a constrained coastal site in Napier.
View Project →Get in Touch
Our bridge construction capability is built for New Zealand's challenging access environments — remote gorges, steep terrain, and tight programmes. Tell us what you need.
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