"The reason for this is that during the period of repairs, workmen and engineers removed one section of deck in the middle of the bridge outside the repair area. There, they observed additional deterioration in the supporting timbers."
But as this extra inspection was carried out in only one additional location outside the repair area; it was likely that other sections had deteriorated as well.
The opinion of the engineers was that the bridge could not dependably carry loads in excess of the weight restrictions, so they would remain until further notice.
"There is no date at this stage,'' Mr Stein said.
However, it's costing Mr Turney about $500 extra a day with the trucks having to continue to take the long alternate route through the Kauwhata valley to Toe Toe Rd, which meant a 10-minute journey became 45 minutes each-way, he said. The cost was counted in extra petrol and time.
The trucks were transporting 200 crates of asparagus six days a week during the season.
They are trucked through to a central hub in Palmerston North to be sent on long-haul trucks north and south, he said.
"They should just build a new bridge and give us all a break," Mr Turney said.
