A temporary Bailey bridge opened on 19 February, 2024, finally reconnected the communities of Ruakituri, Erepeti and Te Reinga in Wairoa. Photo: Supplied / Wairoa District Council
After nearly two years of disruption and isolation, three rural Wairoa communities are connected once again with the opening of a new temporary bridge.
Whānau in Ruakituri, Erepeti and Te Reinga could usually reach town in 20 minutes to an hour - but that turned into a two-hour drive when Te Reinga bridge was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The 300-tonne bridge was plagued even before that, after being closed for two months following wild weather in March 2022, reopening under traffic restrictions in May.
The cyclone forced its closure and demolition, but a new temporary Bailey bridge opened on Monday finally reconnected the communities.
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said it was fantastic to see locals crossing the bridge once more.
"We recognise how hard this has been on so many people, and again, we thank you for your patience," he said.
"We appreciate your frustrations to have what was once a 20-minute drive to town turn into two hours and to look across the river and yet have no access."
Wairoa District Council said the bridge had a 10km/h speed limit, was restricted to one heavy vehicle at a time, and would not open for 50MAX or HPMV vehicles.
People were asked not to walk over the temporary bridge or jump off it due to the risk of large debris under the water which was not visible from the surface, the council said.