Bridge construction at Tutaekuri River – in progress

On 15 September, we began setting up site facilities along Guppy Road to prepare for the expressway upgrade. The facilities will stay in place until construction wraps up in 2027.

While there is some movement of vehicles, we do not expect a high volume of heavy traffic. Most of the large machinery and equipment required will arrive as construction gets underway and will remain on site for the duration of the work. This means that ongoing truck movements will be limited, and most of the vehicle activity will involve smaller service vehicles and staff transport. 

View the project site facilities along Guppy Road [JPG, 205 KB]

An aerial view of construction activity.

Tutaekuri River access during construction

From 13 October 2025, vehicle access to the Tutaekuri River will be closed so we can begin building the new bridge. 

You can still access the river on foot or by bike via the shared path that starts at the Taradale Rugby Club driveway. The path runs across the field, around the site facility, and reconnects with the Hawke’s Bay Trail. Public parking is available along the Rugby Club driveway, making it easy to park and walk or cycle to the river.

We need to close off the area to vehicles because we need the space to build the bridge. The map below shows the path and where you can park to get to the river.

Other key things to know

• We’ll remove two large trees at the river carpark and plant mature native trees once the project is complete.
• We’ll use gravel from the eastern side of the existing bridge to build the working platform on the western side.
• Early works also include preparing the site at the Meeanee Road overpass for construction access, which will later form part of the final road layout.
• Fencing and signage will be in place to ensure safety.
• There may be temporary changes along the Hawke’s Bay Trail. Detours will be clearly signposted and communicated.
• We’ll pause truck movements via Guppy Road during school pick-up and drop-off times.
• Weekend or night-time work (e.g. for crane lifts) may be required from time to time, depending on project needs. We're still determining how often this will occur. 

Construction officially begins in November 2025. We’ll keep you updated as things progress.

Tutaekuri River bird management programme

A bird management programme is underway near the Tutaekuri River Bridge to prevent birds from nesting in the construction zone. You may hear loud bangs or see bird-shaped kites in the area - this is all part of the effort to protect wildlife and keep the site safe for work.

These devices will help keep birds out of the construction zone.

Hear from our ecologist about how the bird management programme is working.