SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel

22 August 2025

With the bridge wedged tight between the cliffs and the sea, there simply isn’t enough space to keep the road open while some of the work is done.

SH25 will be closed at the bridge for up to 7 days as our contractors demolish the old deck and install the new one. The road closure is scheduled to begin in the week immediately after Labour weekend.

Our team is still working through details for the work to make this run smoothly and will confirm details for the closure as soon as we are able. Should we need to change this timing for any reason we will ensure this is communicated widely.

Closing a road is not something we do lightly. We know this will be disruptive and without suitable local detours, we appreciate it means a lengthy detour around the peninsula.

Once the work is done the bridge will be safer and stronger and no longer a bottleneck – especially during busy times.

A range of construction options were considered and the preferences of stakeholders, businesses and the community representatives incorporated into our planning.

Our contractors will use a prefabricated bridge deck and work extended hours to keep the closure to the shortest possible time.

While this section of SH25 is closed, it will be business as usual across the peninsula.

People will still be able to get to where they need to go, and visitors can enjoy Coromandel’s many attractions. We recommend people plan ahead and allow time to enjoy the journey.

People wanting to get to locations north of the bridge, including the Waikawau boat ramp, will need to use SH25A and the eastern section of SH25 via Tairua and Whitianga. And for those heading south from northern Coromandel, it will be the reverse.

Visitors wanting to enjoy historic Thames and the scenic western Coromandel coast can still make that journey but will need to return via the same route before continuing their travels.

Busy summer construction programme ahead

We have a busy summer season of planned work on state highways to and from and around the Coromandel. 

These works will be disruptive for road users and communities with stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits needed in the areas we will be working.

In some cases we will need full road closures because of the intensity and pace of work we are doing and to ensure safety for the public.

We are taking a careful and considered approach to planning these essential works, minimising impacts as much as possible and avoiding the peak summer holiday rush.

Once the programme and dates are confimed we will ensure these are well publicised.

Each summer NZTA uses summer to resurface and rebuild roads to keep the highway network safe and accessible.

Alongside that we will be finishing our recovery programme with work at Kūaotunu and Manaia on SH25 and near Hikuai on SH25A. We've also more work planned for the Moana Anu Anu bridge in Whangamatā.

We’re making it easy for you to keep up to date with our activities and how those might impact your journeys.

We know emails and social media posts are the way most people prefer to hear about maintenance as we can easily tell you about any late changes to works such as when planned roadworks are affected by the weather.

We will issue regular emails to tell you what’s happening in the week ahead on Waikato state highways - sign up: nzta.govt.nz/waikato-maintenance

If you regularly travel across regions our website has a full list of maintenance emails for every region – sign up for emails from the regions relevant to you: nzta.govt.nz/maintenance-updates

You can also follow our Waikato Bay of Plenty Facebook page  for regular updates: Facebook

Changing speed limits is a legal process. The Rule allows NZTA to set speed limits for roads under its control where there is alignment with the intent and requirements of the Rule and there is strong community support and funding is available.

NZTA has received strong feedback from various communities that these sections of state highway would benefit from operating at a lower speed limit. The sections of state highway now open for consultation in the Coromandel and Hauraki districts are:

• the townships of Kūaotunu and Wharekaho on SH25
• between Thames and Tararu on SH25
• the township of Waihī on SH2
• Karangahake towards Waikino on SH2

Consultation will run from Friday 22 August until 3 October 2025. Visit nzta.govt.nz/waikato-speed-limit-reviews

We are only able to review parts of SH25 at this time. These are areas where there have been significant community concerns raised. If your community is keen to see further speed reviews in your area you can let us know and we will consider it as part of our planning.

Suggest a speed limit change | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

New Pepe Stream Bridge heading to tender

Lead-in work continues for the replacement of  Tairua’s single-lane Pepe Stream Bridge. 

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

Given the construction challenges in keeping SH25 open while we replace the existing bridge, NZTA is securing a contractor via a Design and Build Contract. 

The project team is currently working through a tendering process for the design, resource consenting and construction of the new bridge.  

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

More information

For more information on the SH25/SH25A Thames-Coromandel projects, email us at coromandelprojects@nzta.govt.nz

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