The Moana Anu Anu Bridge on the outskirts of Whangamatā, also known as the Wentworth River Bridge, will be closed to all traffic for two non-consecutive days in May and June.
The bridge, which is located near the intersection of Tairua and Port roads, will be closed from 7am to 5pm on May 17 and June 9 for essential maintenance work.
This follows a recent inspection which determined the southern timber piles of the bridge are deteriorating and strengthening measures are required. Work will involve installing two new steel piles, one at each side of the bridge, and a new steel beam supporting the ends of the main bridge beams.
Motorists travelling between Waihi and Tairua on State Highway 25 will be detoured through Whangamatā during the closures. The bridge will also be closed to cyclists and pedestrians.
Waka Kotahi said the work was essential to avoid more significant disruptions further down the track. It said it would minimise disruption to the community and road users as much as possible, but noted that unforeseen issues such as bad weather could affect the closure timeframe.
The bridge is still safe and structurally sound, Waka Kotahi advised, stating it is regularly inspected and receives maintenance as required.
