A new bridge on Otanga Road north of Dannevirke is complete and the road will be reopened to the public on Monday 1 September.

Otanga Road was closed in 2023 after damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and an earthquake created a 3m drop in the road and collapsed the culvert over the Whakaruatapu stream.

---

Photo: Otanga Road Bridge - 19 August 2025

---

The road was initially proposed to be closed, but Tararua Alliance secured NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi support to deliver a robust bridge solution that has enabled the road to remain part of the local road network. Otanga Road is a detour route if SH2 is closed.

Otanga Road is in an area of significant land instability. Geotechnical and engineering assessments were carried out and the most resilient option was a single-span bridge designed to withstand land movement. Some ground movement is anticipated at the bridge approaches.

Portions of the road are narrow and under priority give way, including the bridge and the rise near Maunga Road. The road is currently unsealed due to the potential risk of ground movement when the damaged culvert is removed. Tararua Alliance will remove the culvert in Spring and let the ground settle, then reassess sealing the road.

The steel beams for the bridge were salvaged and recycled from the nearby Rakaiatai Road bridge, which was washed out in Cyclone Gabrielle. This saved the project $10,000, reduced wait times for materials, and had a much lighter environmental footprint than importing material from overseas.

---

Photo: A recycled Rakaiatai Road Bridge beam

---

The road will be open to light and heavy vehicles under a 30km/hr temporary speed limit.

Nearby on Maunga Road, work will be starting shortly on two drop-outs 2km from the intersection with Tipapakuku Road. This work will be under stop/go and there may be some delays for heavy vehicles. The work on Maunga Road is expected to be completed in November.