Work has begun on the first of three bridges for the Omokoroa to Tauranga Cycle Trail, the new Jess Road wetlands bridge which restores the link lost last year when the old bridge was closed because of safety concerns.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council project manager Scott Parker says the new bridge will take about four weeks to complete. It will be 2.5m wide and 20m long.

It is being built by HEB Construction, which has a $1.8m contract to build three bridge links across the estuary and wetlands between Omokoroa and Te Puna.

The first bridge will connect Omokoroa Peninsula to Plummers Point, the second is within the Jess Road wetland, and the third will connect the end of Jess Road to the unformed end of Newnham Road.

The three-bridge project is jointly funded by Council's cycleway budget; the New Zealand Transport Agency's urban cycleway programme; an NZTA subsidy; the New Zealand Community Trust and PowerCo.

The entire cycleway route is expected to be completed by the end of December 2018.

Jess Road Estuary Group spokesperson Warwick Murray says the group will be delighted to have the new bridge back to restore their access for restoration work.