The cost of the bridge fire that burned through polystyrene blocks in the Tauranga Eastern Link is expected to be more than $2 million, but repairs will not delay the project.

The blaze at the Domain Road interchange in Papamoa over three weeks ago has been under investigation by NZ Transport Agency following an arson attack last month.

The TEL bridge fire which was lit deliberately in Papamoa last month.

Senior project manager, Wayne Troughton, says: 'The exact figure will not be known until additional strength tests have been completed and the contractor starts dismantling damaged components later this week.

'From the initial investigation we know that the fire destroyed around a five metre section of the expanded polystyrene blocks and concrete deck of embankment.

'It also damaged some of the concrete facing panels, the concrete deck beams and the columns of one of the Domain Road bridge B abutments.”

Contractors will begin preparing the site for demolition this Thursday, December 18, and expect to be finished by Tuesday December 23.

'The TEL team are focused on keeping the project to their target completion date, although this will be a challenge,” adds Wayne.

'Until we begin demolishing the damaged areas we will not know the exact cost or time implications.

'At this stage we plan to rebuild the embankment quickly and our goal is that there will be no effect on the project opening date in mid-late 2015.”

Demolishing the damaged parts of the bridge before Christmas will allow the rebuild to start in the new year.

For the past three weeks design engineers and insurance assessors have carried out inspections of the damaged section and undertaken a range of tests to gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage.

The engineers looked for damage to the reinforcing steel, particularly where it deteriorated in the heat and resulted in cracking to the concrete.

The insurance assessors carried out inspections and a range of tests, and contractors Fulton Hogan HEB Construction Alliance have been assessing a range of ways to dismantle and rebuild the damaged areas.

Meanwhile it is business as usual for the rest of the project.

Several key milestones are due to be complete over the coming months, including the completion of the Parton Road bridge, the installation of the new electronic toll gantry and the putting in place of the Mangatawa interchange bridge beams over State Highway 2.

People can keep up to date with progress on the TEL by visiting: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/tel