New Two-Lane Tavistock Road Bridge Opened

Travelling across the Tavistock Road bridge has been made safer for teachers and families of Koputaroa School and members of the wider community after a narrow bridge was widened last month.

The bridge was closed for two and a half weeks to allow for the construction of a two lane bridge.

Tavistock Road along with Koputaroa Road forms one of the most direct routes linking State Highway 1 to State Highway 57, north of Levin.

The original one-lane bridge was built in the 1960s and in recent years had been identified as a problem because of the poor visibility and lack of road width particularly when approaching from the west.

Koputaroa resident Malcolm Guy remembered the bridge being built when his father Duncan Guy was chairman of Horowhenua County Council.

"He got a bit of criticism for it being one lane, but the change in lifestyle and improvements to the Highway junction has caused traffic flow problems.

Koputaroa School principal Martyn Dowman said the bridge was a lot safer with two lanes.

"We have buses that use that road and many of our parents drive to school along it. The volume of traffic has been increasing all the time and therefore changing it from one way to a two way road has made it safer."

He said the bridge closure was a minor inconvenience to the school community, but people were aware the outcome would benefit everyone.

"Everyone was keen for it to be done. It's great that it's now two lanes."

Council's Community Assets Manager Braden Austin said the one-lane bridge restricted the flow when traffic was diverted due to one of the State Highways being closed.

The design of the new bridge was a local collaboration between the Horowhenua District Council, Tatana Contractors Limited, and Foster & Company. Mr Austin said the Tavistock Road Bridge renewal project was completed within the $180,000 budget.