Road Safety Week 2026 Urges Kiwis to ‘Be a Road Safety Hero’
New Zealand communities are being encouraged to participate in Road Safety Week, running from 4 - 10 May, with a nationwide push to raise awareness and reduce road harm.
He says the decision will ensure the state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users.
“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the Government, and with many small bridges across the country suffering speed and weight restrictions due to their age and condition, it is essential these bridges are replaced with more modern and resilient structures,” Brown says.
Over the course of the next three years, nine priority bridges will be replaced, including the SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge on the West Coast, the SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge and Waihao North Bridge in Canterbury, and the SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge in the Waikato.
Brown visited the Coromandel last week and says he understands the impact the current Pepe Stream Bridge has on the local community and motorists visiting Tairua.
“At 81-years-old, the single lane bridge is a bottleneck, with severe congestion experienced during holiday periods,” he says. “I’m pleased we’re getting on with work to deliver a modern two-lane replacement.”
Brown says New Zealand’s state highways are critical for freight, tourism, and serve as important lifelines for communities.
“We must maintain, manage, and replace these bridge assets to a standard Kiwis need and expect. Particularly in rural and remote locations where alternative routes are not available,” he says.
“With a strong focus on maintenance, and prioritisation of network connectivity and productivity, NZTA can flatten the wave of bridge replacements needed over the next few decades,” Brown adds.
He says this will allow the Government to target investment where it is needed most, while ensuring road users get where they need to go, quickly and safely.
“I look forward to these first nine priority bridges being replaced over the next three years and the benefits that will come to local communities from modern and more resilient structures,” he says.
Bridges to be replaced
- SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge, Canterbury
- SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge, Waikato
- SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge, West Coast
- SH25 Ramarama Stream Bridge, Waikato
- SH43 Kururau Stream Water Drive, Whanganui
- SH82 Waihao North Bridge, Canterbury
- SH3 Mangapepeki No. 2 Culvert, Taranaki
- SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert, Bay of Plenty
- SH27 Ohinekaua Stream Bridge, Waikato
