A vehicle crosses the Kawarau Falls bridge while construction of the replacement bridge continues on the Kawarau River’s southern bank. Photo: ODT files
A NZ Transport Agency media statement said the single-lane bridge would be open for only 10 minutes every hour between 11pm and 6am, starting this Sunday.
The restriction, which would continue until next Friday, would enable the construction of a retaining wall on the river's northern bank.
Bridge users should also allow for 10-minute delays between 7pm and 11pm, while over-dimension vehicles could not use the bridge at all between 7pm and 6am.
The $22 million, two-lane replacement bridge, which was originally scheduled to open in June, is now expected to open by Christmas.
Announcing the delay last November, the NZTA said contractor McConnell Dowell had encountered unexpectedly hard rock while drilling the riverbed for the second pier.
