Plans for the replacement of the Pepe Stream Bridge in Tairua are gathering pace, with construction now expected to begin earlier than originally planned and a public information day scheduled for late February.
The bridge, which sits on State Highway 25, is a critical connection for the town and wider Coromandel Peninsula. An artist’s impression released by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency shows a new two-lane bridge designed to improve safety and resilience in the busy coastal environment.
Transport Agency officials say they will return to Tairua for a public information day on Thursday 26 February, to be held at the Tairua community hall between 2pm and 6pm. Residents will be able to drop in at any time to view plans, ask questions and discuss how construction will be staged.
Subject to final consents being granted by the end of April, construction is now expected to start in July, bringing the project forward from its previously indicated spring start.
The main construction contract was awarded in November last year to Fulton Hogan, which is working alongside design consultants WSP to finalise the detailed design and consent conditions ahead of a mid-year start.
Waka Kotahi says building a new bridge in a tight urban and coastal setting will be complex, particularly while maintaining access for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The contractor’s construction methodology and traffic management plans will be a key focus of the February information day.
Work is expected to begin with the construction of a temporary pedestrian bridge upstream of the existing vehicle bridge. Essential services will be relocated onto the temporary structure before the current pedestrian bridge is removed.
Construction of the new bridge will then proceed in stages. One traffic lane and a shared path will be built first on the eastern, seaward side. Traffic will be shifted onto this new section while the existing bridge is dismantled, allowing space for the second lane and footpath to be completed.
Key milestones outlined for the project include lodging consent conditions by the end of February, securing consents by the end of April, completing detailed design by the end of June and starting early works, such as service relocations, between May and July. The bridge is scheduled to be completed by December 2027.
To support ongoing engagement, Waka Kotahi is establishing a Community Liaison Group, with the first meeting planned for next month. The group will bring together key stakeholders and community representatives to receive regular updates and raise local issues or concerns during construction.
The Transport Agency says it recognises the high level of public interest in the project and is committed to keeping the community informed through meetings, newsletters and updates on its project website.
Meanwhile, motorists are being advised of upcoming works elsewhere on State Highway 25. In February, traffic will be detoured for two weeks while a section of highway at Mangatarata is rebuilt and repairs are carried out on the Waitakaruru River Bridge.
The work is scheduled from Monday 9 February to Friday 20 February, with detours in place between 8am and 5pm on weekdays. The detour, via State Highway 2 and Pipiroa Road, is expected to add around eight minutes to travel times. The highway will reopen each evening and over the weekend of 14–15 February, with speed restrictions in place. Access for property owners and emergency services will be maintained throughout.
Further information on the Pepe Stream Bridge project and SH25/SH25A works is available through Waka Kotahi’s Thames-Coromandel project updates and newsletters.
