Riddiford Bridge
The Riddiford Bridge is at 94 Te Awaiti Road.
Following inspection of the bridge in 2023 that uncovered structural concerns, the council placed temporary traffic restrictions on the bridge as a safety precaution. Until further notice, the following restrictions apply to the bridge:
- Vehicles (20,000 kg) can cross the bridge.
- Vehicles are to cross the bridge at less than 10km/hr.
Background
A visual inspection of Riddiford Bridge on 12 December 2023 uncovered some significant cracks in the supporting piers.
A second independent assessment on December 14 2023 confirmed these concerns. The inspection by Egis NZ was carried out from ground level and from the bridge deck. You can view the full report here. (Note: following advice from the initial assessor, WSP, the load was increased from 3,500kg to 20,000kg since the report was published.)
Following the advice of both inspections, Council placed the temporary traffic restrictions on the bridge as a safety precaution, and it commissioned an urgent detailed assessment in the 2024 new year.
Remediation
In December 2025, the tender for remediation work was awarded to Riverside Construction from Levin. Riverside Construction take possession of the site on 12 January 2026.