Speed and weight restrictions are in place on a bridge on SH30 between the King Country towns of Te Kuiti and Bennydale.

The single-lane wooden bridge takes traffic over the Main Trunk Railway Line and a stream at Kopaki, 27km south of Te Kuiti.

The NZ Transport Agency is planning for a new bridge and slight realignment of the highway but a replacement is some years away and restrictions are needed now.

“We have been closely monitoring the bridge and will continue to do that until a new bridge is in place,” says Transport Agency System Manager for the Waikato, Karen Boyt.

Some remedial work may also be required to keep the bridge open, even with the current restrictions.

“We are investigating installing steel plates on the deck to spread the load and reduce the impact on individual timber deck planks.”

The bridge now has a posted speed limit of 10km/h for all vehicles and a freight restriction of 80 per cent of Class 1.