WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
New Zealand Highway Upgrade to Begin, Reducing Future Disruptions
WHY IT MATTERS
The upgrade will deliver a stronger and more reliable bridge, reducing the risk of future disruptions and maintaining the flow of traffic along this vital route between Taranaki and Auckland.
What happened
A major upgrade to Symes Bridge on State Highway 39 (SH39) between Ōtorohanga and Pirongia is set to start on October 11. The project involves replacing the deck and beams of the bridge, making it stronger and over one meter wider.
This upgrade will improve the bridge's resilience and ensure safe passage for people and freight. The NZ Transport Agency has contracted Oxcon to deliver the work, which will be coordinated with the construction of a new Mangati Bridge four kilometers north on SH39.
This approach will allow the most disruptive work to be completed within the same period, avoiding further closures in the future.
PRIMARY SOURCES
SH39 Symes Bridge upgrade getting underway
New Zealand Government Beehive · beehive.govt.nz · New Zealand Crown copyright; accurate reproduction/translation with attribution; third-party media excluded