Huge effort reopens Ngaiotonga bridge

Contractors have reopened the Rawhiti Road bridge at Ngaiotonga tonight providing much needed alternative access to coastal communities cut off by a major slip blocking Russell Road at Helena Bay Hill.

The Ngaiotonga bridge was closed on Saturday night after flash floods washed away the bridge abutment. Engineers later assessed the bridge structure as undamaged and safe to use once the abutment was reinstated. However, that work has been significantly hampered by slips and flooding elsewhere along Rawhiti Road and Russell Road, preventing contractors from delivering machinery and materials.

That access was finally opened north of the bridge late yesterday on Rawhiti Road and contractors immediately began delivering more than 40 truckloads of rock and gravel required to rebuild the abutment.

Initial estimates were that the work might take until early next week to complete. However, a huge effort from contractors slashed that timeframe to just 24 hours.

Motorists are warned to reduce speed to a crawl and drive with caution when crossing the bridge as the repair is temporary only. Contractors will be back on site after the long weekend to complete the job.