The bridge over the Esk River on State Highway 2, north of Napier, will be reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit from Monday (29 August 2022).
Recent assessments have identified the bridge does not have enough capacity to sustain increased traffic demands. The bridge is 81 years old and wasn’t designed to carry modern day traffic, specifically, the number of heavy vehicles and the weight of these trucks.
While we understand this will be an inconvenience for road users, it is critical everyone complies with the temporary 30km/h speed limit to keep vibrations to a minimum to reduce the impact on the bridge structure and prevent further deterioration.
We are working through design options for repair, and further investigations are underway to determine the extent of the strengthening work required. Similar strengthening designs have been done in the past to address comparable issues and ensure the bridge remains in service and fit for purpose.
In the interim, before strengthening work is completed, single lane closures as well as further speed and/or weight restrictions may be required.
We thank all road users for their ongoing patience.
The Esk River Bridge on State Highway 2, north of Napier.
