Brookfields Bridge in Hawke's Bay collapsed into rising floodwaters during Cyclone Gabrielle.
Video / Cathleen Adams
Business owners, residents and a speedway community are calling for Brookfields Bridge to be replaced between Napier and Hastings, as the future of the destroyed bridge remains uncertain.
A large section of the 87-year-old bridge was washed away during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
Previously, it provided analternate route between Napier and Hastings. It also took pressure off State Highway 2, Hawke’s Bay Expressway and SH51 (through Clive) which are the two main routes connecting the twin cities.
Hastings District Council owns Brookfields Bridge and has yet to confirm whether it will be rebuilt.
The council has not gone as far as ruling out a rebuild but the bridge’s future remains unclear nearly two years on from the floods.
“A regional transport study is planned to be conducted during the next three years ... identifying the future form and function of the transport network connecting Napier and Hastings,” a council spokeswoman said.
“This will inform the necessity and future position of the Brookfields Bridge.”
The Government’s planned four-laning of the Hawke’s Bay Expressway will be taken into consideration during that study, when weighing up the necessity of the bridge.
Meeanee Speedway president Regan O'Brien says rebuilding the bridge would help the speedway community. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine
The one-lane Brookfields Bridge has long serviced the communities of Pakowhai and Meeanee.
Co-owner of Mitzi and Twinn Catering in Meeanee, Harriet Twinn, said she would love to see it rebuilt.
“Lots of people who come out here all ask that question: ‘are they going to do the bridge again?’”
She said locals wanted more certainty about its future and she previously used the bridge nearly every day.
She said it had added a challenge for some off-site catering jobs due to the extra travel time.
“The biggest thing is the time spent having to travel.”
The middle section of Brookfields Bridge was washed away during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine
She said if it was rebuilt, not only would it provide an alternate route between Hastings and Napier but it would also provide relief when there was a crash or closure on SH2 or SH51.
Meeanee Speedway president Regan O’Brien said the speedway would benefit hugely if the bridge was repaired.
“Since the bridge has been closed we have had a lot of extra costs with traffic management and there are traffic jams at the end of the night when meetings finish.
“It was so helpful when the Hastings side could drive out and go to Hastings and the Napier side could drive out and go to Napier.”
He said on a big meeting almost 6000 people can attend the speedway, and there was now essentially just one way out.
O’Brien said a lot of members asked about the bridge’s future and the speedway would like some clarity from the council.
Brookfields Bridge has been out of action since the cyclone. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine
Chesterhope Kennels is on the other side of the bridge, in Pakowhai, and owner Diane O’Neill said the bridge closure had caused problems for her business.
“We used to take our dogs down there for river walks and we can’t get there now.
“We would go over the bridge and walk down the lime track. We would do that most days.”
She said people had to “go the long way” whenever they wanted to head to Napier, whereas previously she and her husband would use the bridge most days.
“My husband worked at Awatoto and what was a five-minute trip has now become 20.”
O‘Neill, whose Pakowhai home and kennels were badly flooded and have been rebuilt, said she would love to see the bridge replaced but “I don’t think they consider it a priority”.
Manager of Meeanee’s Brookfields Vineyards, Rachel Robertson, said it made a lot of sense to rebuild the bridge.
She said Brookfields Bridge would provide a good alternate route to SH51 and could be redone as two lanes, particularly if the upgraded expressway was tolled in future.
“Why can’t we have the bridge re-opened and take the pressure off [SH51],” she said.
“Half the people would go through Pakowhai and go to Napier South through this way.”
As for the winery, she said it had a strong reputation so many customers made the trip despite the bridge being out, but it did take longer to get there.
Thirteen bridges were destroyed in the Hastings district alone.
The council is working on permanent rebuilds for most of those bridges including Puketapu, Matapiro and Waiohiki.
Brookfields Bridge has been left off that “immediate programme of work” list.
Plenty of temporary bridges have also been set up around Hastings.
Hastings district has the highest debt - $413 million in borrowed money - of any council in Hawke’s Bay and was hardest hit in terms of damage from the cyclone.
Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
