East Cape Rd Bailey bridge opens to traffic after East Coast storm damage

A Bailey bridge on East Cape Rd has opened this week, restoring access for isolated residents. Photo / Gisborne District Council

Residents of an isolated road on the East Coast have had access restored six weeks after severe weather cut them off, with the opening of a Bailey bridge this week.

Gisborne District Council announced in a social media post this afternoon that the bridge on East Cape Rd had opened to traffic.

“Following the unnamed weather event also known as Tropical Depression 5F on January 21-22, the triple culverts at RPS.2 on East Cape Rd were destroyed beyond repair and the connection cut off our East Cape Rd whānau.”

Work started quickly to salvage old culverts, clear the stream and relocate utility services to the opposite side of the road to make way for the bridge assembly.

“The Downer Bailey bridge team travelled from Hastings, assembled the 21m modular steel bridge on the roadway, and launched it across the stream into position.

“It’s been a solid effort from many people working hard to restore this connection.”

The post said that, with the bridge now open to traffic, there was a 50-tonne maximum load.

“Vehicles over 50 tonnes continue to use the ford crossing.

“Planning for a permanent solution is underway.”

The council also thanked locals and workers.

“A special thank you to East Cape Rd residents and the Horoera community for your patience while this work was underway. To our community links on the ground who kept whānau informed throughout, your mahi made a real difference.

“Ngā mihi to the Downer Bailey bridge team for their expertise, Curries and Blackbee who constructed the bridge abutment retaining structures that will form part of the permanent repair solution. Also the teams at Chorus and Firstlight, our council roading crew and everyone else involved.”

Te Araroa Civil Defence shared the “awesome news”.

“All our whānau out [at] Horoera are officially reconnected,” it said in a post.

“A massive thanks to all contractors who have been working tirelessly on our roads for the last 6 weeks.”

Many local roads were still closed in parts by slips, washouts or dropouts. These included Potikirua Rd, Mangaoporo Rd and Lottin Point Rd.

More information on local roads is available on the Gisborne District Council website.

State highway information is available online on the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi website.