Work on strengthening Donald Lane Bridge in Kaitaia will begin on Monday.
The Far North District Council will replace the piles of the one-lane bridge which spans the Whangatane spillway, and handles 1200-1500 vehicle movements a day.
GHK Piling is expected to finish around the end of August, at a cost of about $70,000.
It also plans to replace the deck of the 33-metre bridge, at a further cost of $70,000, when it has obtained funds and approval from the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The bridge will be closed to traffic for a time, with traffic being diverted to Allen Bell Drive. David Penny, the council's general manager infrastructure and asset management, said the council had no plans to widen the bridge to two lanes, but it would modify it so it can be extended when the Northland Regional Council has completed hydrological studies to determine the new width of the spillway at the bridge.
