Ahipara bridge footpath to be replaced

Work to improve pedestrian safety on the Ahipara bridge on Foreshore Road kicks off next month.

The footpath section of the bridge, which is the only pedestrian crossing over Wairoa Stream on Foreshore Road, is being upgraded. Work begins on Monday 3 March and will run until Friday 4 April. That work will include a full road closure from 13-17 March. A detour will be in place.

The current footpath on the main bridge deck was deemed structurally compromised and unsafe for pedestrian use. Scaffolding has been in place to reduce loading on the footbridge until these repairs could be made.

The new footpath will offer a smoother, more secure surface, fully restoring a crucial pedestrian route in Ahipara and improving safety for Foreshore Road pedestrians.

The project will involve several stages of construction. Temporary traffic management will be in place from 7am – 6pm with traffic lights set up at the Foreshore Road/Roma Road intersection. This will allow crews to begin preparing for the bridge’s footpath replacement, with minimal disruption to traffic.

From 13 to 17 March, the bridge will be fully closed for the demolition of the old footpath. Traffic will be diverted via a detour route along Roma Road, Kaitāia-Awaroa Road, and Ahipara Road.

Temporary traffic lights will return to the intersection of Foreshore and Roma Road from 18 March to 4 April as the final touches are completed on the new footpath. Residents will be notified in advance, and work crews will be onsite over the weekends to ensure the project stays on schedule.

There will be pedestrian access over the bridge at all times, however, there may be some delays during times the crane is in operation (from 13 to 17 March).

By April 4, the bridge will reopen to both pedestrians and vehicles, with a safer, more stable path for all who use it.

You can find more information on our website.