SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel

7 March 2025

The new bridge over Onetai Stream takes shape

State Highway 26 to reopen on schedule

State Highway 26 (SH26) between Paeroa and Thames will reopen to through traffic from Monday 10 March, following completion of the first phase of the project to replace the Onetai Stream Bridge between Hikutaia and Pūriri.

The road has been closed since mid-February, while the old bridge was demolished and the abutments and deck of the new bridge were installed.

The bridge will initially reopen to 1-way traffic as the team finish the road approaches and other safety aspects of the project.

The new abutments, timber bridge beams and deck were prefabricated to speed up construction.

The team has worked extended hours to get this phase of the project completed as quickly as possible.

We understand the road closure has been inconvenient and caused disruption, particularly for regular users of the state highway, and are grateful to the community for their support and patience while we replace the bridge.

When completed, the new bridge and its road approaches will be 3 metres wider than the old 46 year old bridge that it replaced, making the road safer and more resilient for all users.

Pupils from Hikutaia School using the temporary access (left) and sharing lunch with our contractors

Temporary 'short-cut' provided for local schools

The month-long road closure for the replacement of the Onetai Stream Bridge had the potential of making life challenging for some busy families and teaching staff who would usually drive across the bridge to get to and from the local schools along the state highway.

The project team worked with the contractors and the schools to find a cost-effective solution that would make life easier during the road closure.

A low-cost temporary pedestrian bridge was put across the stream for children and their parents/caregivers and teachers to use before and after school.

For their part, the schools worked with their communities to arrange pick-up and drop-off each side of the temporary ‘walking school bus’. 

For the families involved the daily trek through the site was an opportunity to get to know the team and see the progress being made.

Last week pupils from Hikutaia School, which had 7 pupils and 3 teachers impacted by the closure, visited the site and brought along lunch so they could thank the project team for putting the walkway in place. 

Principal Wayne Whitney says visiting the site and sharing positivity with the team was a joy for the kids and staff.

In turn, our contractors not only enjoyed the opportunity to meet the children but were also very well fed with a sausage sizzle and some delicious home baking.

Kuaotunu Hill slip repairs to begin shortly

Repairs to an underslip which has reduced a section of SH25 between Wharekaho and Kuaotunu to a single lane are expected to begin ahead of winter.

With the Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Programme nearing its conclusion this site is 1 of 2 major sites and several smaller sites to complete. It is also one of the most challenging due to road width constraints and the size and complexity of the slip.

The project team is working through options for construction sequencing to minimise disruption, however some road closures are likely to be necessary. We will update key stakeholders and the community as details are confirmed.

Once underway, repairs will take up to 6 months to complete.

Work is also expected to begin ahead of winter to repair an underslip on Manaia Hill, which will take about 3 months to complete. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place while this is done.  

The team is also currently working at 2 smaller sites, repairing the embankment at Boom Stream Bridge on SH25 between Hikuai and Opoutere, and stabilising a slip site between Coromandel township and Te Rerenga.

The team has now completed repairs at Pumpkin Hill where around 2100 cubic metres of unstable material was removed from the 30m wide and 20m deep slip. The team managed to complete the repairs while maintaining 2 lanes of traffic for all but the final phase of reinstating the road surface.

Boundary Creek Bridge

More bridges for replacement

Two more single lane bridges on SH25 are to be replaced with 2-lane structures over the next 2 years, improving the efficiency and resilience of the state highway around the peninsula.

Work will begin later this year at the Boundary Creek Bridge on the Thames Coast north of Te Mata. This bridge has been reduced to a single lane due to its condition and will revert to 2 lanes once a new bridge deck is installed and its abutments repaired and strengthened.

This work will also mean the slow traffic bay on the southern bridge approach will be restored.

Replacing bridges in areas with a very narrow road corridor such as this invariably involves some full road closures, and that will be the case here. However it is vital we do this work to ensure the resilience and safety of this route by replacing this bridge which is at the end of its life.

Our project team is considering a range of construction options for getting this work done efficiently and safely, within the available budget, while minimising disruption to road users.

We will engage with road users and the community to understand impacts of closures and incorporate those views into our planning, and ensure the community is kept updated about this project.

Design of a new 2-lane bridge to replace the single lane bridge Ramarama Stream Bridge on SH25, just north of Whiritoa, is also under way. 

There are quite a few steps to complete before we can begin construction including obtaining construction funding, land acquisition and consenting.

The new bridge’s proposed location is east of the existing bridge so there will be minimal disruption to SH25 traffic until it comes to connecting the new bridge and its approaches to the existing state  highway.  

Pepe Bridge replacement timeline

The countdown is on to replace Tairua’s single-lane Pepe Stream Bridge.

Funding has been secured and the replacement bridge project is now in the procurement phase.

A contractor is expected to be signed up by October this year, with design and consents secured ahead of starting construction in spring 2026. The build is likely to take around 12 months, opening before Christmas 2027.

Ecology and geotechnical investigation are now under way.

A business case was developed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) in 2022 to consider and test the options for a replacement of the bridge. Engagement with iwi and stakeholders led to identifying the preferred option which is now funded for construction.

The 2-lane replacement bridge with an attached shared walking and cycling path will replace the single-lane bridge and a separate pedestrian bridge.

The bridge crosses a narrow tidal estuary on SH25 south of Tairua’s commercial centre. The narrow 3-span bridge was constructed in 1942.

More information

For more information on the SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel project, contact us at coromandel@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/thames-coromandel