The opening of the Whirokino Trestle bridge in Horowhenua to 50MAX traffic now means the entire State Highway 1 network from North Cape to Bluff may be used by these trucks.
Having the Whirokino Trestle freed up for 50MAX traffic will also remove the need to divert these trucks via Shannon/ Palmerston North.
NZTA freight director Harry Wilson says the restriction on the bridge south of Foxton was lifted after an extensive engineering assessment.
He says the 1100 metre reinforced concrete bridge was the last 50MAX restricted bridge along State Highway 1.
Wilson says the lifting of the restriction applies only to 50MAX, other high productivity motor ehicles (HPMVs) will need to continue to use the route specified on their permits.
Meanwhile, the number of 50MAX permits continues to rise.
As at October 1, a total of 1843 permits had been issued – less than a year after the permits were introduced.
