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New fears have been raised about the safety of the ageing Kopu bridge, prompting calls for construction of a new bridge to begin immediately.
But Transit New Zealand says it will not bring the start date forward because the region has deemed other projects a higher priority.
The 80-year-old, one-lane bridge is the main link between Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula and has long been plagued by traffic problems, particularly during peak holiday periods.
Last month, Thames man Ian Richardson raised concerns about the bridge's safety after it was closed for urgent repairs and he read on Transit's website that sections of the structure were at risk of collapse in a moderate earthquake.
The publicity prompted Transit to commit to a start date of mid-2011 for building a replacement.
The highway authority attempted to allay fears about the safety of Kopu Bridge by saying that although it did not meet modern design standards, it was subject to a robust maintenance programme and was structurally sound.
But Mr Richardson and Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie have uncovered fresh evidence which they say undermines Transit's claims the bridge is safe.
Now they and Thames Coromandel District Mayor Philippa Barriball are calling on the authority to begin building the $32 million replacement bridge as soon as possible, and Mrs Goudie is also demanding the Government take urgent action.
Transit engineering reports released to the National MP under the Official Information Act reveal that the bridge has "seismic deficiencies" which mean it does not comply with the minimum requirements of Transit's Bridge Manual.
Mrs Goudie received reports dating back to 2001, when Transit said the bridge was likely to suffer significant damage even at relatively low levels of seismic activity.
Transit admitted to the Weekend Herald that no improvements to the bridge's earthquake performance had been made since 2001, but said it was subject to a "comprehensive bridge inspection programme" and was "constantly monitored".
"We look after the bridge carefully and are confident that it is structurally sound and fit for the volume of traffic it currently carries," Waikato regional manager Kaye Clark said.
But Mr Richardson said recent photos he took of the underside of the bridge showed it was "falling apart".
"If that was in Auckland it would be condemned," he said.
Mrs Goudie accused Transport Minister Annette King of "dicing with time" by not ordering Transit to speed up construction.
"The minister is turning a blind eye to what could potentially be another bridge disaster."
A spokesman for Ms King said she was guided by engineering experts on the bridge's safety, and they had deemed it sound.
The spokesman said the minister allocated funding according to what regions wanted, and the Waikato Regional Land Transport Committee had indicated that the Kopu Bridge was not its top priority.
Transit also said it was "ready to go" on building the replacement bridge, but the committee had indicated there were other, more important State Highway 1 projects it wanted first.
The committee includes local mayors, and Transit and Land Transport representatives, and deputy chair Paula Southgate said members had given unanimous support to the project starting in 2011.
Bridge safety had not formed part of any formal discussions by the committee, but Mr Richardson said the committee now had a responsibility to re-prioritise because of safety.
