One of the Tararua District’s oldest bridges, the 97-year-old Alfredton Bridge near the Route 52 intersection by Alfredton School, has been closed after engineering assessments identified structural cracking requiring further investigation. Engineers have advised that continued vehicle use could accelerate deterioration, increasing the risk of failure and potentially compromising pedestrian safety.

The bridge is currently closed to all traffic while further core sample testing is carried out to better understand the bridge’s structural integrity. Pedestrian access remains open at this stage. Vehicles are required to use the detour via Pa Valley Road, Mangaone Valley Road and Alfredton Road, adding about 10km.

Tararua Alliance Network Manager Andrew Desmond says the detour will remain until results are available. “We expect results within two to three weeks, which will allow us to determine what level of traffic, if any, can safely use the bridge. We’ll update the community as soon as possible.”

Tararua’s network includes 405 bridges and 153 large culverts, many nearing or exceeding 100 years old. With 52 more bridges reaching this milestone in the next decade, the Alliance has strengthened its asset management approach, focusing on early intervention, improved monitoring, and targeted investment to maintain safety and reliability across the network.