The Waikare Gorge Realignment involves a 4-kilometre realignment of State Highway 2 (SH2) and construction of a 160-metre arch bridge across Waikare Gorge near Pūtōrino, north of Napier.
The scope of the project includes:
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a new 4-kilometre realignment of SH2 west of the existing highway
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a 160-metre arch bridge
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improved road geometry and gradients to increase safety and reduce closures during severe weather events
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upgraded drainage and earthworks
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integration with existing highway connections at the northern and southern tie-ins
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provision for routine maintenance access and long-term monitoring of the new structure
Key Dates
| Feb 2024 | Project Announcement |
Funding contributions
| NZ Government | |
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In May 2020, the NZ Transport Agency announced that they were preparing to advance the Waikare Gorge safety realignment project after obtaining $5 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to support pre-implementation activities, which include accelerating detailed design, the construction contract award, and construction commencement within the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) period. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi |
PROJECT HISTORY
| May 2023 | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi lodged resource consent applications for the project. |
| Feb 2024 | Councils publicly notified the project’s resource consent applications and Notices of Requirement. |
| Mar 2024 | Submissions closed for resource consents for the realignment and new bridge. |
| Sep 2024 | The project was formally included in the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). |
| Feb 2025 | The New Zealand Government confirmed funding for the Waikare Gorge Realignment through the NLTP 2024–27. |
| Sep 2025 | A new Acrow bridge was installed as an interim structure to accommodate High Productivity Motor Vehicles while the realignment proceeds to construction. |
