The public are invited to meet the team delivering the mahi on the Takitimu North Link project this coming weekend as construction gets underway on the first of eight bridges to be built.

A community information session will be held at Bethlehem Hall on Saturday May 28 between 11am and 2pm, giving neighbours to the project and the wider community an update on progress and the opportunity to find out more about what's ahead during construction.

'We've reached an exciting phase with work starting on the bridge at Wairoa Road, the first of eight major structures on the project," says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery, Jo Wilton.

"Piling will be underway from next week for about six weeks, and the bridge will take around 12 months to build.

Jo says now is a great time for local people to learn more about the project and what is ahead during construction.

"We encourage everyone to come along and find out more. We'll have maps and aerial photos to view, and even some activities for kids," says Jo.

"We know there is a lot of interest in how things are progressing, and how the road will be built – we look forward to seeing people there.”

Work gets underway at Wairoa Road, on the first of eight bridges to be built on Takitimu North Link Stage One. A diversion road is open ahead of work starting at Wairoa Road, with a speed limit of 30km per hour. Photo: NZTA.

The Wairoa Road Overbridge is 95m long and one of a series of three large span ridge bridges that will be built as part of the $655 million NZ Upgrade Programme project.

The project includes eight bridges totalling 1.6km of the 6.8km route, made up of 45 spans and approximately 12km of piles, they range in length from 20m to 360m and in height from 6m to 25m.

A diversion road on Wairoa Road has been built to enable the bridge to be built, and this is in operation with a speed limit of 30km per hour. The bridge will be built ‘offline' - away from site - and will not be disruptive to traffic.

As with most major construction projects, there will be a certain amount of disruption as the Takitimu North Link project progresses, we will do our best to ensure we can minimise this and keep the community informed.

About the project

The Takitimu North Link project is part of the Government's $8.7 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme investment in better travel choices that help people get where they're going safely.

NZTA say it will give people better access to safer and more reliable travel options to provide greater choice in how they move about.

Find out more about the project at www.nzta.govt.nz/takitimunorth