An extensive repair programme to upgrade the strength of the superstructure of the 215m-long Mohaka Bridge on SH50 between Napier and Taupo has been wrapped up.
Since the upgrade began on October 31 last year speed limits on the approaches and across the bridge had been lowered to 30km/h and weight restrictions placed on heavy vehicles with the crossing reduced to a single lane.
Traffic lights and manual stop/go controls at busy times were introduced.
By late January contractors expected to wrap the job up by late April but the scale of the project saw that extended to late May. That then was pushed to the end of June and then the end of July.
The work has been a continuation of major restrengthening and safety-boosting projects around the bridge which was built in 1962.