The new permanent Te Reinga Bridge is on track for a mid-March 2026 opening.

Nearly four years after the original bridge was first damaged, the Te Reinga, Ruakituri and surrounding communities will once again have secure connectivity.

Towards the end of last year, the arch frame was lifted into place using a 1100-tonne crane in one of the biggest bridge lifts seen in New Zealand. Since the bridge lift, work has focused on installing the deck slabs in conjunction with constructing the bridge approaches.

Once completed, the new bridge will be the district's longest single-span bridge. It will also be one of only a handful of steel arch bridges in New Zealand, with the leading-edge design eliminating the need for piers in the riverbed, giving it improved resilience.

The permanent bridge is a one-lane, 90.5m-long network arch spanning the entire riverbed, with a 13.5m-long single land span. The network arch is approximately 18m tall at its highest point and made of weathering steel. The land span and pier will be constructed of concrete.

The new bridge is being built next to the current temporary bridge, in a similar position to the previous permanent bridge. The bridge has been designed to withstand flood and earthquake events in accordance with NZTA Waka Kotahi’s requirements and built to modern design standards, which are significantly more advanced than those used for the original bridge.

It is designed for current loading standards and will be open for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV), with some restrictions for over-dimensional vehicles.

The temporarybridge will remain in place until the new bridge is opened. The temporary bridge has a maximum weight of 44 tonnes, and a speed limit of 10 km/h is in place.

The Te Reinga Bridge was initially damaged during the March 2022 floods. Further damage occurred in February 2023 during Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused a pier to wash away, leading to the bridge’s closure. The old bridge was demolished in June 2023, and a temporary bridge (including a Bailey bridge) was constructed to restore access and opened in February 2024. The total cost of the permanent rebuild project is $14 million, with the work government-funded.

Mayor Craig Little acknowledged that it has been a long wait for these impacted communities. “We appreciate the support of our local people and also thank the government for recognising our need and fully funding this crucial piece of infrastructure. There will likely be further traffic delays, and we thank you for your continued patience while the work is carried out.”

Caption: The new permanent Te Reinga Bridge is on track for a mid-March 2026 opening.

4 February 2026

Back to Home