New two-lane bridge to replace Pekatahi
- Aimee Stanton
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
The government have announced they will replace the century old, one-lane Pekatahi Bridge with a new two-lane structure.
The State Highway 2 bridge, east of Tāneatua, has long been the subject of complaints. It currently requires disruptive quarterly maintenance to repair its damaged surface.
East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says "this is an exceptionally good development for our rural and regional economy."
She says the road is a lifeline, supporting tourism, and is a pathway for transporting essential supplies, goods and products.
Kirkpatrick says "the community is absolutely delighted." She says messages are already flooding in expressing the excitement around the solution to "what has become quite a major problem."
Funding for the $64-$69 million project will come from the NZTA National Land Transport Fund. Construction is set to begin in 2027 and is expected to take 18 months.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the design will have earthquake resilient foundations, and an elevated deck to protect against flooding.
He says it will be built to a "standard that accommodates High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs), meaning better outcomes for freight."
The new bridge will be built alongside the current structure to minimise disruptions. Kirkpatrick says the existing bridge will undergo repairs including the installation of steel plates on the deck. The repair work is expected to begin in early 2026.
