State Highway 2 (SH2) Pekatahi Bridge reopened on Thursday 9 July following a six day closure that allowed crews to successfully complete a significant package of maintenance work to improve the bridge surface and help keep the bridge safe and reliable.

The 325m long one-lane bridge was closed 24 hours a day from Saturday 4 July until noon Thursday 9 July with the key aim of improving the driving surface.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Area Manager Sandra King says the crew worked through a range of weather conditions and around the clock to complete the work ahead of the Matariki public holiday period.

The crew used small diggers to remove the diagonal timber wearing boards - but all nails and screws were removed by hand. They also installed ramps at either end of the bridge where the deck is now lower than the approaches and repaired a damaged side rail.

As a result of the changes, people driving over the bridge will notice the bridge feels different to travel across.

People crossing the bridge are asked to take care, keep to the temporary 30km/h speed limit and drive to the conditions, as the timber surface may be slippery when wet.

People riding motorcycles should be particularly alert to the change in surface conditions while becoming familiar with the new bridge surface.

NZTA will monitor how the new surface performs over the next few weeks, and investigate options for additional friction treatment should it be required that could allow the speed limit to be raised.

NZTA thanks the community, freight operators and all road users for their patience while this essential work was carried out. We also acknowledge Whakatāne District Council for enabling the use of local roads for the detour route during the closure.

NZTA will continue to carry out regular maintenance inspections to help keep it safe and reliable until the replacement bridge is built.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday 7 July, NZTA awarded a contract to continue detailed design and consenting for a new two-lane replacement bridge to engineering consultancy, Beca.

The new bridge is planned to be built alongside the existing bridge, allowing traffic to continue using the current crossing during construction, meaning no long-term closures.

NZTA expects the project to be construction-ready by mid-2027 and well positioned for consideration funding approvals through the 2027–30 National Land Transport Programme. Subject to funding approval, construction is expected to take between 18 and 24 months.