The newly completed rail overbridge on State Highway 30 at Kōpaki, south of Te Kuiti, will open to traffic later this evening.
Once the bridge is open, all vehicles will be able to begin using it immediately. This includes trucks weighing more than six tonnes that have been required to detour around SH3, SH4 and Kōpaki Road.
The new overbridge will open with a speed restriction of 30km/hr and drivers are asked to keep to the limit and drive carefully. As the bridge and approaches are freshly sealed, keeping speed down is essential to help the chipseal bed in.
Once the new overbridge is opened to traffic, the old one will be closed and prepared for disassembly.
The new bridge will provide for safer and more reliable journeys for communities along SH30 between Te Kūiti and Maniaititi/Benneydale.
Waka Kotahi would like to thank the community for their patience during the past two years of construction.
