Te Reinga Bridge has been reopened, but only to light vehicles with a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes.

This week the bridge was temporarily closed following damage to the bridge deck. This is the third time the deck has sustained damage, and investigations are underway into why the issue is occurring.

Repair work is expected to start next week and there may be temporary traffic restrictions and bridge closures while this work is carried out. Monitoring of the situation will continue.

Motorists are reminded bridge loading at the temporary Te Reinga Bridge is as follows:

*Class 1 Loading permitted - max weight of 44000kg

*50 Max and High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs) loads are not permitted, and a 10 km speed limit is in place.

 The temporary Te Reinga Bridge was opened a year ago on February 19 2024, following nearly two years of bridge closures, disruption and isolation for the Ruakituri, Erepeti and Te Reinga communities.

 The Te Reinga Bridge was initially damaged during the floods in March 2022. Further damage occurred in February 2023 during Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused a pier to wash away, leading to the bridge's closure.

The design of the permanent replacement Te Reinga Bridge has been completed, tenders have closed and final negotiations are taking place.

Work will begin in May and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The total cost of the rebuild project is $ 14 million with the work totally government-funded.

The bridge will comprise a one-lane, 90.5m long network arch spanning the entire riverbed and a 13.5m long land span. At its highest point, the network arch will be approximately 18m tall.

The bridge will be designed to withstand flood and earthquake events in accordance with NZTA Waka Kotahi’s requirements and built to modern design standards, which are significantly more advanced than those used for the original bridge, meaning it should be able to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The bridge will feature a single-span network arch design, eliminating the need for a pier in the riverbed. This approach will enhance resilience and minimise environmental disruption, preserving the mauri of the awa. Piers from the previous bridge will be removed from the river, reducing the risk of future failures and improving resilience. The network arch will be made of weathering steel, and the land span and pier will be constructed out of concrete.

The bridge will be rebuilt along the existing alignment and accommodate vehicles and pedestrians, with a reduced speed limit and a locally supported drop in speed environment.

The bridge will be designed for current loading standards and open for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV), with some restrictions for over dimension vehicles.

24 February 2025

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