Whangārei’s Te Matau a Pohe bridge will close for repairs from 6am on Sunday, 10 May, until Monday, 11 May, after cracks were found inside its large fishhook-shaped steel structures. The $32 million bridge crosses the lower Hātea River, near Whangārei Harbour, and is one of the city’s best-known landmarks. The cracks were discovered in internal welds during a routine structural inspection.
The bridge opened in July 2013 and is New Zealand’s only rolling bascule bridge, which means part of it can roll back and lift to let boats pass through. Since opening, it has lifted more than 25,000 times for boats travelling between the Whangārei Town Basin and the harbour. Around 4 million vehicles use the bridge each year, which is about 11,000 vehicles a day.
The bridge’s two white curved structures are almost 20 metres tall and represent Māori fishhooks. They are important parts of the lifting system, helping a 25-metre section of the road rise safely while heavy counterweights keep the bridge balanced. Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper said the welds had not failed or come apart, but the repairs were needed promptly to prevent future damage.
During the closure, vehicles and boats will not be able to use the bridge, but pedestrians may still use the footpaths unless there is an emergency. Dave Culham Drive will also be closed from Port Road to Riverside Drive, with detours in place. Backup repair dates have been set for 17 May and 24 May.
