New Zealand Transport Agency say plans are in place to upgrade the Pekatahi Bridge in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be moved to avoid peak summer traffic.

The Agency staff advised elected members at a recent Council meeting a new start date has been set for the bridge upgrade.

The Agency says in a media statement they had previously advised the project would commence before Christmas, but has now pushed the date out so work will commence after Waitangi Day, 6 February 6, next year and continue for a minimum three-month period.

The closure will require all SH2 traffic to be re-routed through Whakatane's heavy traffic bypass via the Landing Road Bridge, Hinemoa Street, Arawa Road and Taneatua Road.

Whakatane District Mayor Tony Bonne says he is pleased the Agency has revised their projected schedule for works.

'NZTA previously advised us that up to 20,000 vehicles currently cross the Landing Road Bridge each day, and closure of the Pekatahi Bridge will add an additional 2,000 vehicles a day, including approximately 400 heavy vehicles,” Tony says.

'With congestion at peak commute times already a significant issue at the Landing Road Bridge, I'm glad that NZTA has heard the concerns of staff and elected members and pushed their start date out to February to reduce the potential impact of the project on traffic flows.”

Whakatane District Council manager Transportation, Martin Taylor advised through his report to Council the Agency will undertake a road condition assessment before and after the bridge closure along the diversion route.

It would also do assessments on Thornton Road, to help assess any accelerated pavement deterioration that may occur to these roads arising from the extra heavy traffic on them.

'NZTA have carried out some initial traffic modelling work to assess the impacts of diverting the State Highway traffic on the Landing Road Bridge following closure of the Pekatahi Bridge, and have come up with some options to mitigate the effects,” Martin says.

'These options will now be discussed with the affected residents and their feedback will also be considered through these options.

'NZTA has also assessed the morning and afternoon peak traffic issues across the Landing Road Bridge to assist in reducing the current Landing Road bridge congestion, and propose to install cameras to monitor traffic flows on the roundabout and the Landing Road and SH30 approaches.”

Martin says the real time video images may also be able to be posted on Council's website for public access.

'NZTA will monitor traffic flows throughout the diversion period and will work with Council to address issues as they arise.”

Further to addressing the impacts of the Pekatahi Bridge diversion, the Agency has also committed to working with Whakatane District Council to develop a Business Case on the future option of a second bridge for the town.