The 350 workers at Silver Fern Farms meatworks near Waitotara could know next week when they will be back at work.
The plant, on Waiinu Beach Rd, has been isolated since the flood-swollen Waitotara River damaged the only bridge access to the plant between SH3 and the Waiinu Beach settlement.
Engineers are currently assessing the Limeworks bridge and what repairs will be needed to see it able to take the heavy trucks servicing the processing plant.
Alex King, plant manager, told the Chronicle yesterday he had been told it could be a week or two before that engineering information firms up.
"They reckon July 27 but the council reckons it might be a day or two after that. And then it will only be open to light traffic."