For extra-heavy duty applications. 38 x 38 mm (26 x 26 mm aperture). Medium (general grade) grit surface.
Case Study:
Mangaturuturu Bridge
The Heavy Duty Mesh is better in this location as the larger holes help shed leaves and sticks, and the wind and rain can pass through more easily.
M. Wilson — Abseil Access
Challenge
Trail bridges have to serve more than the people walking across them. They often need to accommodate maintenance access, withstand environmental conditions, and remain safe underfoot for the public, often on remote sites where any return visit is costly and any failure is high-impact.
The Mangaturuturu bridge crosses a river on the Te Hanga Ruru trail in the Ruapehu region, part of the Mountains to Sea trail network. The bridge needed to take both trail users and the occasional maintenance vehicle, in alpine bush that delivers wind, rain, and constant leaf and stick debris.
Solution
Abseil Access specified our FRP Heavy Duty Mesh Grating for the bridge deck. The 50 mm moulded fibreglass grating handles vehicle loads, the open mesh aperture sheds debris and lets wind and rain pass through, and the moulded construction resists the corrosion that long alpine exposure brings. The Heavy Duty Mesh has an expected service life well beyond 15 years, with minimal maintenance requirements – ideal for long-life trail assets where return visits are difficult.
Outcome
The bridge is complete and in service on the Mountains to Sea trail network. The deck provides a slip-resistant walking surface for trail users, supports maintenance access without requiring separate provisions, and is built to remain serviceable through alpine seasons with minimal upkeep.