Bridgerail bridge barriers ensure pedestrian safety at Jack’s Point in Queenstown, NZ

Jack’s Point, located just 15 minutes from Queenstown, New Zealand, is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Set on the shores of Lake Whakatipu at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range, Jack’s Point features over 1300 residential homes, a lakeside village with accommodation, restaurants and shops, and a golf course.

The area has been thoughtfully designed with a network of well-maintained footpaths, hiking trails, and bike routes that wind through the picturesque scenery.

Footpaths have been designed to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists, with clear separation between pedestrians, cyclists and cars. Careful planning has also ensured the installation of necessary safety features, such as barriers and signage, to minimise risks and provide a secure environment for everyone exploring the area.

Moddex was contracted by Strata Civil to supply and install Bridgerail bridge barriers alongside a footpath and across culverts, ensuring pedestrian safety and preventing falls at the site. Modular and pre-engineered, the Moddex barriers offered a durable and low-maintenance safety solution.

Key factors Moddex considered for aesthetics, safety, and compliance

Visual consistency and aesthetics

Besides serving the intended functional purpose and meeting legal requirements, the visual impact on this project was just as important. The balustrades needed to complement the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Moddex met this requirement by supplying the barriers in a sleek, powdercoated black finish. This choice was carefully selected to blend in with the environment, with the aesthetic design being approved by both the architect and contractor, resulting in a design element that is beautiful to look at, dependable and safe.

Use and risk of damage

Moddex had to consider the barrier location and its expected usage to ensure the selected material would be appropriate. With medium traffic anticipated in the area, stronger materials were required to endure frequent wear and tear, such as nicks and scratches. Also, given that this is a public space, Moddex had to consider the potential for vandalism.

To address these challenges, the chosen material was first HDG coated and then powdercoated black, providing enhanced resistance to damage and reducing the need for ongoing maintenance and replacement costs. In addition, the barrier included the DEXX® locking screw as a solution to further enhance security. Designed to combat issues such as vandalism and loose screw connections caused by vibration, the DEXX® locking screw automatically creates a long-lasting deadlock when screwed in and can only be unlocked using a specific Moddex-supplied 5-star-drive DEXX® screwdriver, adding an extra layer of protection and durability.

Loads and structural properties

Moddex ensured that the balustrade design for this project met the necessary strength specifications and adhered to relevant safety standards.

Given the culvert’s drop of over a metre, the barrier had to comply with NZBC Safety from Falling F4 requirements. Additionally, the design was carefully developed to meet NZS 1170 for structural design compliance and the NZTA Bridge Manual Clause B6.4, which specifies that pedestrian, cyclist, and equestrian barriers must be designed to withstand the most extreme of the following loads:

• A horizontal and vertical service load of 1.75 kN/m applied to the top rail

• A horizontal service load of 1.5 kN/m² applied to the gross area of the barrier, and a point load of 0.5 kN in any direction at any point

Project details

Project: Jack’s Point Culvert 

Location: Queenstown, NZ

Client: Strata Civil

Products Used: Bridgerail™ Bridge Barriers – BR40