14 February 2025
The effort to rebuild and repair Tairāwhiti’s cyclone and storm damaged bridges is making steady progress.
In a major milestone, over half of the 97 bridges requiring major repairs are now complete. Minor repair work is also advancing, reaching 47% completion for the 36 affected bridges.
“It’s great to hit the halfway mark,” says Tim Barry, Director of Community Lifelines.
Barry highlights the extensive behind-the-scenes work involved in bridge repairs before construction even begins.
“Before you see contractors on-site, there’s a lot of preliminary work that may include things like geotechnical reports, resource consent applications, bridge design, and cost estimates. Once those are completed, they go to funders for final approval before we can begin the tender process to select a contractor. It’s by no means a simple process.”
He acknowledges that while there’s still at least 3 more years of work ahead, the progress so far is worth celebrating.
“It’s important to recognise how far we’ve come. It’s been a real team effort — our Council team, contractors, and funders should all be proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
Significant progress has also been made on replacing the destroyed bridges that have received funding.
Barry says the Hollywood Bailey Bridge has now been strengthened, extending its lifespan by at least 50 years, and that the tender process for the construction of St Leger Bridge will be advertised shortly, with a contract expected to be awarded by the middle of the year.
Council has begun seeking quotes for the design of the Mata (Huriarua), Grays, and Pauariki Bridges, with the design contract to be awarded before Easter 2025.
“We continue to work on alternative access solutions for the Burgess and Mangatai Bridges and are making progress with our discussions with funders. We know it’s been an exceptionally challenging time for those waiting on bridge replacements or alternative access routes. They still feel the impacts of the Cyclone daily.”
These milestones all mark crucial steps in our cyclone recovery journey, demonstrating ongoing commitment to reconnecting our communities, restoring essential transport links.
For updates on our bridge repair programme
Waikereu Bridge damaged from Cyclone Gabrielle
Waikereu Bridge work now completed