All state highways in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne are now open following completion of the Hikuwai Bailey bridge north of Tolaga Bay marking a key milestone in the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
The 85-metre Hikuwai Bailey bridge is the longest Bailey bridge in the post-cyclone recovery and replaces the Hikuwai no.1 bridge north of Gisborne that collapsed during the event.
The bridge reconnects SH35 between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. A bypass put in place by local contractors has been the alternative route for the past few months. The unsealed road will remain in use for heavier trucks which are unable to use the Bailey bridge.
Associate transport minister Kiri Allan says the bridge will restore connectivity and improve travel times for local communities while the Government explores “the best long-term solutions for infrastructure resilience in the area”.
“It’s a huge day for the mighty East Coast. This highway is a lifeline for residents of Tokomaru Bay, Waipiro Bay, Te Puia Springs and other communities along SH35 to Gisborne and residents have suffered over the past few months,’ Allan says.
The bridge is one of 11 Bailey bridges the Government committed to building to reconnect cyclone affected communities. It follows the completion of the Waikare Gorge Bailey bridge on State Highway 2 last month, reconnecting Wairoa and Napier.
The Government topped up the National Land Transport Fund by $250 million to cover the cost of emergency repairs and earmarked a further $275 million for the work in Budget 2023.
Waka Kotahi maintenance and operations regional manager Jaclyn Hankin says contractors worked hard to get the bridge opened as quickly as possible along with support from the community.
While the bridge and roads either side are now open for travel, wet weather has prevented contractors from finishing the road surfacing,” she says.
“This will need to be done in the coming days to ensure the road will remain safe and reliable through winter and may temporarily impact the opening hours of the bridge.
“We will keep affected communities informed of any changes to opening hours with as much notice as possible,” Hankin says.
