"It wasn't like no one used it, so I felt like it needed to be in safe state."
In April the situation was worsened by both Cyclone Debbie and Cyclone Cook.
The man became even more shocked by the state of the bridge as he noticed the lack of safety barriers.
"It really hit me when I was driving back from my friends house with young children as it became a real health and safety issue."
"My friend with the kids was really worried about driving across after the cyclones in case she lost her vehicle with the kids in it."
It wasn't until emails to the Hastings District Council that "temporary mesh" where the barriers had fallen was put in place.
The man said there were still gaps in the bottom large enough for young children to climb under.
"When I visited, there were two areas of netting missing at the bottom with holes big enough for a child to climb or slip through to their deaths."
He believed if council acted on the situation five months ago a lot of work and money could have been saved.
"A simple fix to this whole fiasco could have been actioned months ago by straightening the riverbed to flow directly under the bridge."
"This would have stopped all this extra damage and saved a huge amount of money that is now going to be required to fix the embankment."
A Hastings District Council spokesperson said work was scheduled to start on the bridge in March but due to bad weather, including Cyclone Cook, the water levels were at a height which made it impossible to work on the area below the bridge.
Council commenced work in Kereru on Mondayand it was expected to be completed by mid-next week.