For Coromandel residents, a functional state highway network in and around the district is vital for daily life and prosperity. That’s why it’s important we prioritise the maintenance of the state highway network in the right places at the right times.
Coromandel state highways and bridges are safe, regularly inspected and maintained.
Waka Kotahi has an active state highway bridge maintenance, strengthening and replacement programme. Safety is our number one priority, and we carry out regular inspections to ensure that all state highway bridges in New Zealand are safe.
Our busy 2023/24 maintenance programme is now underway.
If you’d like to see the scale of the work planned around the Coromandel network, take a look at this map where it identifies each site.
Waka Kotahi 2023/2024 road works season(external link)
State Highway 25A between Kōpū and Hikuai suffered significant damage with the road collapsing after the North Island’s major storms early 2023. A bridge is in construction to reconnect the state highway. There is no short-term fix for this section of road, but we’re committed to reconnecting Coromandel communities and working through options for a long-term solution.
A 124 metre 3 span bridge is currently in construction on State Highway 25A at Taparahi, between Kōpū and Hikuai. The road is expected to be open to traffic by 20 December 2023.
CloseThe replacement of Pepe Stream Bridge is a priority for Waka Kotahi.
The Pepe Stream Bridge business case to explore replacement options has been completed and approved. We now move into the next phase of project development, which is called 'pre-implementation'. Funding for this phase has been approved and includes detailed design, consenting and property investigation.
Waka Kotahi will continue to keep the community informed as we work through this process. For more information on the process and where it’s at, you can find latest information, newsletters and the proposed designs on the Pepe Stream Bridge replacement project page.
Pepe Stream bridge replacement project
CloseThe Kirikiri Stream bridge, built in 1941, will be replaced to help alleviate flooding in the area. The current bridge is low and narrow with a central pier that collects flood debris, causing water to back up during storms. Replacing the bridge will help reduce the flood risk, protecting the area from the impact of severe storms.
The replacement design is for a steel tied arch bridge, to be built slightly upstream of the current one. It will be 3m higher and will not accumulate debris underneath.
As part of the project, the nearby intersection of SH26 and SH25A will be upgraded with a roundabout, significantly improving safety on this popular holiday route.
We went out for tender on this project in mid-2023, however the process was unsuccessful due to the prices received being significantly higher than the available funding.
As a result of this, and a shift in focus to recovery and resilience due to this year’s weather events, this project will be re-tendered in 2024–2025.
Kirikiri Stream bridge replacement project
CloseBoundary Creek Bridge – one way restriction
The bridge over Boundary Creek on State Highway 25 between Thames and Coromandel has been reduced to one lane to extend its useful life.
The bridge deck and beams, known together as the superstructure, are ageing due to sea salt spray and need to be replaced. For the bridge to remain open traffic will be directed across one lane in the centre of the bridge.
There is no date currently scheduled for the superstructure replacement of the Boundary Creek bridge.
CloseHikuai River Bridge
Waiwawa River Bridge
Waiomu Stream Bridge
Maukoro Bridge
Kereta Hill retaining wall
Ohinemuri River (Mataura) Bridge
Cloudburst Culvert
Grahams Stream Footbridge
Grahams Stream Footbridge
Between 14 November and 12 December 2022, we formally consulted on the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan for 2023/2024, which included proposed new speed limits for parts of SH25 and SH25A.
In December 2023, the Minister of Transport announced changes to the Setting of Speed Limits Rule and confirmed work is underway to develop a new Rule. We are taking the appropriate steps to give effect to road safety policies the government announces.
Government changes speed limit rules – media release(external link)
As a road controlling authority, we still have a responsibility to set speed limits to maintain the state highway network. This work will continue, for example where there is a specific operational need, such as for infrastructure projects, temporary speed limits expiring or new roads opening.
We remain committed to improving road safety for everyone in New Zealand. We will continue to design, implement, and maintain a transport system that uses a range of integrated safety interventions.
SH25A is a state highway that sits within the top one percent of the most dangerous state highways in New Zealand. This means, it has the highest number of deaths and serious injuries per kilometre of road and is high risk for people using the road.
In the ten-year period between 2013 and 2022 there were 6 people killed and 35 seriously injured. Most of the crashes were related to loss of control and speed.
This is a vital strategic route for the Thames-Coromandel community. The route is narrow and hilly, with many corners and steep drop-offs. When closed, the detour route is nearly 100km, adding well over 90 minutes to the journey.
Due to the urgency of some speed limits related to specific operational needs, we progressed the SH25A speed limit via an alternative process, separately from the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan.
From Monday 19 February 2024, the new permanent speed limit for SH25A, between Kōpū and Hikuai, is 80km/h. This speed limit has been approved by the Director of Land Transport.
CloseDue to traffic volumes and patterns changing on SH25 after the emergency closure of SH25A, Waka Kotahi conducted a speed review in response to resident and stakeholder safety concerns.
Since mid-2023, temporary safer speed limits have been in place around the Coromandel while the recovery works are completed on SH25A and on SH25.
We understand there is strong community support for the SH25 temporary speed limits to be made permanent.
Changing any speed limit is a legal process and there are numerous steps we must follow.
We are working through what the Minister of Transport’s announcement means regarding speed management activity, including the development of future speed management plans.
Once we have more information, we will take the appropriate steps to give effect to road safety policies the government announces, acknowledging the Minister has begun work on a new Setting of Speed Limits Rule.
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