Bridge confirmed as solution to reopen Coromandel Peninsula SH25a State Highway

Rebuild costs for the bridge are still being finalised, but the estimated cost is between $30-40 million. The funding will come from the government's $250 million top-up to the National Land Transport Programme fund to support the recovery. Construction will begin next month, and Wood estimates it will be finished by early 2024. To achieve this, the government will be exploring seven-day work weeks and working "around the clock" to get the highway open as soon as possible.

It is a significant project that we expect to be in the zone of around about 30 to 40 million. As I say, there is further work which needs to occur with contractors to finalise a detailed design. And sometimes these projects can be affected by things like weather, so early 2024 as what we estimate at this stage, but I really want to underscore that from myself, from the council and from Waka Kotahi will leave no stone unturned to try and bring forward the opening and the completion of this project.

– Hon. Michael Wood, Transport Minister.

Wood described the road as a "lifeline" for people who travel across the peninsula for work or school. Currently, increased travel time and cost are causing huge disruption, and the bridge's construction is necessary to restore normality to the area. Wood is also working with local government and communities to develop a package of economic support to help businesses that usually rely on SH25A in the meantime.

Why the bridge is considered the best solution 

The New Zealand Transport Agency General Manager, Brett Gliddon, confirmed that the bridge (as compared to other options) will be the most resilient option against the harsh weather the region faces. The bridge will be built to the latest design standards by a New Zealand-based company. When asked why the bypass option was not considered as an option he explained:

The reality is that to do a bypass, you're actually going through the same topography, the same geotech conditions. So you have all the same risks that you have at this location. With a bridge, you have a number of peers that go into the ground and bed and rock, and then you're out of the geotech conditions. And, so a bridge actually ends up being the most resilient solution for the section, a corridor more so than a bypass.

– Brett Gliddon, General Manager New Zealand Transport Agency.

The project's challenges include slips and water still running through the collapsed areas of the road. However, the bridge can be partially constructed offsite, which will protect it against any further weather events that may impact the area of the highway in the near future. Gliddon said they would look to do as much work as they can while the road is closed.

Council welcomes decision for the State Highway 25A repair

This announcement has been very, very welcomed. The loss of this vital connection has not only caused immeasurable harm to our ability to operate as a community, but it has hurt our business operators at a time when they didn't need any more pain. I can also tell you that this is just the beginning and the Minister touched on this already. Our district has struggled with decades of underinvestment to an eroding and infrastructure need networks. That needs to change and it needs to change now. Our council will be pushing very hard to ensure that it does.

–Mayor Len Salt, Thames Coromandel District Council

Tapu-Coroglen to open June

I know that for many in the community this will be a long time to wait to have this key connection restored. We’ve been working hard with the Thames-Coromandel District Council to repair and improve local roads ahead of winter and can confirm that the Tapu-Coroglen road will be open to light vehicles next month providing some extra connectivity across the peninsula. We’re also continuing work to repair and fully reopen other key roads such as SH25.

–Hon. Michael Wood - Minister for Transport

More support confirmed for businesses 

The closure of SH25A has caused significant disruption to businesses in the area. To date the government has supported 400 businesses with grants up to $40,000 and provided tax relief for impacted businesses. Wood said business owners told him it would be the fourth summer in a row that there has been disruption to businesses in the area.

In the meantime, we’ll be working with local government and communities to develop a package of economic support to help businesses that usually rely on the direct route onto the peninsula to bring people onto the peninsula during the summer. We are acutely aware of the impact this road being closed has on businesses and will support them through this tough period.

–Hon. Michael Wood - Minister for Transport

Woods stated that the Government has in recent weeks confirmed tranche three of funding for affected local communities, which is in the process of being distributed through to councils in the affected region. Councils will lead the process of allocating the funding to the community.