Hikuwai Bridge No.1 was badly damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle. It is located on State Highway 35 approximately 83km north of Gisborne and 20km north of Tolaga Bay. The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance is constructing a single, two-lane replacement bridge.
In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle caused significant damage of State Highway 35 (SH35) and washed away Hikuwai No.1 Bridge cutting off communities in Tokomaru Bay and further north from whanau, essential supplies and healthcare needs.
In March 2023 a community-led bypass route which connects Gisborne to Tokomaru Bay and runs to the east of Hikuwai River was opened. It was constructed by local business Kuru Contractors, which NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) supported and worked with Ngāti Porou to restore the connection and reconnect communities.
On 15 June 2023, the state highway and communities on either side were reconnected by a temporary Bailey bridge. Spanning 85 metres, the Hikuwai Bailey bridge is the longest in the country.
Both the temporary Bailey bridge and the bypass are vulnerable and the replacement of Hikuwai Bridge No. 1 will provide a permanent solution, critical to avoiding future disruptions to communities
TREC has started enabling (early) works to replace Hikuwai Bridge No.1 as a single, two-lane bridge, making it more resilient than the previous by rebuilding it to stronger and more modern building standards.
Enabling works are expected to take approximately four months from March 2025 and will include three milestones:
The temporary road is a 250m long temporary realignment of SH35 to be built on the southern side of the Bailey bridge. It will provide a safe working space and to ensure traffic is kept at a safe distance from construction works. It will be open and operating when main works begin in mid-2025.
The new bridge will be a modern, two-lane structure approximately 100m in length and follows the same alignment as the old bridge.
Rounded piers and a wider central span will ensure it better withstands debris by reducing pressure and blockages on the structure.
Larger, deeper piles will improve resistance to flooding and scour effects.
Stronger steel columns will boost the structural durability of the bridge and improved bearings will prevent the bridge deck uplifting when inundated and during earthquakes.
To enable this work to be done some disruption to traffic is expected and we are working to ensure a smooth flow throughout the area. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we aim to keep any delays to a minimum.
The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing road, allowing traffic to continue flowing in both directions using the temporary Bailey bridge.
The Bailey bridge will remain operational as it currently is, with general access and 50tn max load permitted. Overweight and over-dimensional vehicles will continue to require a permit, with a 10kmh speed limit and a one-vehicle-at-a-time policy in place.
Construction work will take place Monday to Friday, from 6am to 6pm; some Saturday work may be necessary. During enabling works, traffic management will be in place including a temporary 30km/h speed restriction remaining in place on the southern side of the bridge where the temporary alignment is being built.
Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to follow on-site signage and look out for trucks accessing the site.
