“Falling Apart”: NZTA Weighs Fix for Deteriorating Deck on Existing Pekatahi Bridge

NZTA crews will meet over the next week to discuss long term solutions for Pekatahi Bridge maintenance until the new bridge opens. 

Last year, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said, "NZTA will ensure the existing bridge continues to service the community by installing steel plates on the deck and actively monitoring and maintaining the structure. This work is expected to start early 2026."

Since then, NZTA said it had removed the chipseal surface to improve travel, "however, the underlying timber surface planks have continued to deteriorate since the last pre-Christmas closure." 

It said quarterly closures have been scheduled, and regular inspections of the surface have increased to ensure the bridge is safe for travel. 

The next closure is scheduled for the April school holidays to ensure school bus travel remains uninterrupted. 

Meanwhile, NZTA Bay of Plenty Area Manager for Maintenance and Operations Sandra King said NZTA is discussing what long term maintenance solutions would work for the bridge. 

"it is a very tricky situation to maintain something that is falling apart on the top because it does require a closure to do it. It's the length of the closure and how we do it that we're looking at different options at the moment." 

"Meetings will be held this week to decide what solution can be put in place to make travel safe and to avoid quarterly closures," she said. 

King said, the steel plates mentioned by the Transport Minister have been procured, but the cost and disruption of installing them need to be weighed up.  

Installing steel plates would take a long closure which would disrupt freight, residential and school traffic, which may not be viable she said. 

A solution will be decided on in the coming weeks, King said. 

The solution will need to last until the end of 2028, with the opening of the new bridge predicted to be in 2029. 

In the coming months, work for the new bridge will begin with geotechnical investigations. 

Funding for investigations and consenting of the new bridge have been approved. 

Finalised design plans are expected in late 2026 following engagement with iwi, Whakatāne District Council and adjacent landowners.