The five individual sections that will span the river have been assembled at our contractors’ yard.

Waikanae Bridge update - 7 February 2024

Contractors are making good progress as they work to attach a shared path to Waikanae Bridge on old State Highway 1. Once installed, the clip-on bridge will make crossing Waikanae River safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and better separate drivers from those walking or cycling.   

With work expected to be completed by May/June 2024, the first steps in the project include building foundations for the new walking and cycling path, at both ends of the bridge. We’ve dug out the foundation sites and poured the first concrete for these over the last two weeks. We’ve also removed the bridge’s old side barrier and added a temporary railing in its place for now.

We’re currently building a platform for the 220-tonne crane that crews will use to lift the custom-designed, prefabricated path sections on to the bridge. The five individual sections that will span the river have been assembled at our contractors’ yard in Otaihanga. As oversize loads, they’ll be carefully transported to the site, one-by-one via the Expressway, once the foundations are complete. Then we’ll attach each one securely to the bridge in turn.

We know the traffic changes for this work mean longer journeys for many people, and there’s extra traffic on the detour route. We also know that this is disruptive. Thank you for your patience while we work on this. 

Waikanae is open for business

While these works are happening, please remember you can still travel north over the bridge when you’re heading in to Waikanae, only needing to take the expressway going south. Getting to Waikanae from Peka Peka, Otaki or further north is unaffected by the works.

Waikanae is open, and with over 200 businesses, you may be able to find what you need locally. Please support local if you can.

For more information on what's available, check out the Waikanae Business Association on their website and on Instagram.

Parking near swimming hole

As part of the works, we’re installing a crane on the south-western side of the bridge. If you’re planning to park in this area near the swimming hole, please keep in mind that parking space will be limited.

Keeping safe around roadworks

Thousands of roadworkers are working on the roads for you every day, and every day they experience dangerous behaviour by people travelling through worksites.

Respect roadworkers and travel safety through their worksites. Stick to the posted speed limit, drive carefully, and follow any signage you see and any instructions you receive. Whether they’re doing traffic management to keep you safe or they’re on the tools, the last thing we want is for workers to cop abuse, be injured, or worse.

Most of us are patient and supportive of the job roadworkers are doing. We appreciate you and we know the workers do too. Like all of us, roadworkers deserve to get home at the end of the day.

Watch the video here.

More information

For more information on the Mackays to Peka Peka corridor improvements project, contact us at m2pprevocation@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/m2pp-revocation