Full load testing will be carried out on Waitangi Bridge on Friday with the aim of opening to two lanes of traffic.
“We realise how important this route is and being able to open it to two lanes is a high priority for us, our bridge engineers and the Hawke’s Bay community. The outcome of the load bearing test will determine whether the bridge can soon be opened to two lanes of traffic,” says Waka Kotahi’s Journey Manager for Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, Andre Taylor.
The work will take place between 10am and 3pm this Friday with a full road closure in place.
“It’s important the work is carried out during daylight hours and with a full closure in place, to ensure the accuracy of the equipment being used and safety of the crews undertaking the testing. We want to undertake this testing as soon as possible to hopefully get the bridge back open to two lanes.
“This is being done with the support of the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Incident Controller.
“We are expecting significant congestion and urge motorists to please continue to avoid all unnecessary travel. We understand delays can be frustrating and we want to reiterate our thanks to all road users for their patience and understanding.
This work is subject to weather and may be postponed at short notice.
Please note this information can change rapidly – ensure you check the latest weather conditions with MetService, and consult the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner(external link) for the most up to date information on road closures.
For those who are unable to access the internet at this stage, please keep tuned to local radio for the latest Civil Defence advice.
Journey Planner is updated 24/7 by Waka Kotahi traffic operations centres and is the best source of the most recent and reliable information available on state highway closures and disruptions. Remember to refresh the page when checking the status of highways to ensure that the latest updates are displayed.
