State Highway 35 at Rotokautuku Bridge in Ruatoria will be closed to traffic for 30-minute periods over four separate days for repairs and improvements.

The highway will be closed in both directions between Bridge Rd and Thatcher Rd for 30 minutes from 12pm til 12.30pm, on the following dates: Monday September 23, Tuesday October 8, Wednesday October 23, and Monday November 11.

While the bridge remains structurally sound, repairs to the bearings and cross bracing are needed to restore the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and to improve its strength.

Transport Rebuild East Coast crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will be raising the bridge by a few millimetres to carry out this work.

There are no viable detours. NZTA is reminding road users on this stretch of SH35 to plan for these delays or avoid travelling at these times.

Emergency vehicles will be able to travel with co-ordination from the site manager.

The work is weather dependent and the contingency date for each closure is two weeks after the initial planned date.

Electronic signs (VMS boards) will be in place on the highway advising of the closure times/days from one week out. 

Work to improve the bridge will be ongoing over the next few months. Outside of the planned closures, minimal impact on traffic is expected.

Crews expect to be finished the bridge improvements by late 2024.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nztahbg
• X: https://x.com/nztacni
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)