Work to restore one of Te Puke's historic heritage features will begin this week.

The Landscape Road Timber Bridge, estimated to have been constructed in the 1880s, will undergo a $70,000 makeover to solve safety issues and restore strength. Work on the site begins tomorrow.

The Landscape Road Timber Bridge. Photos: Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The bridge, which crosses a nearby un-named stream, is listed as one of the Western Bay of Plenty's Significant Historic Heritage Features in the District Plan.

It is a rare form of Timber Bridge which once formed part of the main road through Te Puke.

Following the diverting of State Highway 2 many decades ago, Landscape Road now only serves to provide access to a small residential area, adjacent grazing land, and the Old Te Puke Cemetery.

It also allows acccess to Te Puke Squash Club, McLoughlin Park and pedestrian/cyclist-only access through Lawrence Oliver Park and Jellicoe St/Te Puke township.

It is unknown if the existing bridge is the original or a later replacement in the same location.

Council's reserves & facilities project & assets manager Scott Parker says the scheduled repairs will restore strength to the bridge, providing safe access for pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility scooters. It will remain closed to public vehicles.

When complete, the finished decking and support structure will have fresh, clean and unpainted timber which will gain a weathered appearance after a few short years.

The arched rails, lattice bracing and colonial posts will be matched by re-using the same materials and painted white in the existing style.

'Because the bridge is identified as a heritage feature in the District Plan, the bridge must retain its original look,” says Scott.

'An alternative crossing would not be financially sound, when council would still be required to preserve/maintain the old bridge in addition to any new crossing.”

The project will cost about $70,000, which will come from an existing pool of funding generated through the life of the bridge. New or additional funding is not required.

Construction is expected to last two or three weeks, during which time an alternative pedestrian access route into Te Puke will be available via the road verge and footpath on SH2.