The location for the permanent replacement for the Redclyffe/Waiohiki Bridge has been confirmed following Hastings District and Napier City Council deliberations last week.
The original bridge, built in 1933 and jointly owned by Hastings and Napier councils, was one of three bridges lost in the Tūtaekurī River during Cyclone Gabrielle. A temporary crossing with a five-year design life was opened in August 2023 to restore access while long-term solutions were investigated.
After extensive technical assessments, community engagement, and collaboration with Napier City Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), Option 2C has been selected as the preferred alignment for the new permanent bridge.
The option proposes a new bridge immediately upstream of the existing crossing, skewed slightly from the current alignment. It offers the strongest overall benefits among six options considered through a detailed multi-criteria assessment.
Hastings Mayor, Wendy Schollum said the selection of a preferred bridge alignment provided certainty for communities and unlocked the next phase of work building this important connection between the region’s cities, bolstering resilience and supporting economic activity.
“This option delivers a modern, resilient and cost-effective solution that strengthens the connection between Waiohiki and Taradale while minimising disruption for residents,” she said.
“It was one of two preferred options favoured by the community, and also had the benefits of being the safest and most economical choice with the least disruption during construction, easy pedestrian access, and a modern, resilient design, that did not require us to buy any private land, which makes these kind of projects more complex.”
Napier Mayor, Richard McGrath said it was vital to ensure strong connectivity between Hastings and Napier.
“We understand first-hand the experience of being cut off from the rest of the region and we need to make sure it can’t happen again. Getting this bridge in place efficiently and in a way that meets both communities’ needs and expectations is a priority. We also want to work with central government to get it done in a financially responsible and efficient way.”
The estimated construction cost for the new bridge is $60 million, and if construction is completed by 30 June 2029, the project is eligible for an 83 per cent Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) from NZTA, significantly reducing the cost to local ratepayers.
The local share costs would be split 50/50 between Hastings and Napier councils, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the two councils confirmed Hastings District Council as the lead delivery agency, with each council recovering its half share and funding assistance directly from NZTA.
The selection of this alignment enables the project to progress into its next major phase, including ground and geotechnical investigations, a cultural impact assessment, structural options review and detailed design, which was scheduled for completion in late 2026.
Construction is planned to begin in late 2026 and be completed by late 2028.
Council director capital projects, Darren de Klerk, thanked the community for its ongoing input throughout the process.
“We are committed to continuing to engage with the local community to ensure we build a resilient structure with wider benefits for those who both travel through and live in the area,” he said.
More information about this project can be found at https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/cyclone-
gabrielle/roading-recovery/permanent-bridge-rebuilds/redclyffewaiohiki/.
