The Mangaotama Stream bridge on State Highway 39 south of Ngāhinapōuri will be closed to all traffic from 6am on Monday 13 June until 6pm on Sunday 26 June to allow the bridge deck and beams to be replaced.
While the bridge is closed there will be a detour available using local roads, although through traffic, especially trucks, is strongly advised to use State Highway 3 and State Highway 1 through Te Awamutu and Hamilton.
“If you’re travelling between Otorohanga and north of Hamilton you’re best to avoid State Highway 39 between 13 June and 26 June,” Waka Kotahi Waikato System Manager Cara Lauder says.
“The local detour around the Mangaotama Stream bridge is on rural roads which are narrower than the highway, with blind bends, one-way bridges and temporary speed reductions. Travelling on the state highway, which is designed for a higher volume of traffic, is the safer option.”
A weight restriction for trucks has been in place on the Mangaotama Stream bridge since late 2021, with heavy vehicles advised to use the SH3 and SH1 alternative instead. Additional traffic management including lower temporary speed limits was recently put in place on the detour route in order keep local residents and through traffic safe.
Once the work has been completed and the bridge reopened, it will be almost one metre wider and the current weight and speed restrictions will be removed.
While every effort will be made to keep the closure within the 13 June to 26 June timeframe, unforeseen issues such as Covid-related disruption or persistent bad weather could affect this, Ms Lauder says.
The local road detour for northbound traffic on State Highway 39 is Meadway Road, Hams Road, Forkert Road and Ngahinapouri Road, with the same route in reverse for southbound traffic.
We would like to thank you for your ongoing patience while we complete this work.
