'Rubberneckers' warned over Kopu bridge

The new Kopu Bridge. Photo / NZTA

Labour weekend drivers should resist the temptation to "rubber-neck" at construction activity on the new two-lane Kopu Bridge, near Thames, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says.

The NZTA warning follows reports of bumper-to-bumper crashes and slow driving incidents on the State Highway 25 bridge.

"Some drivers are also travelling too slowly across the bridge, and even stopping in the bays, to get a longer view of the construction site and then are not clear of the bridge before the opposing traffic gets the green light," project management services manager Bryce Carter said.

"With increase traffic flows at Labour weekend, any crash has the potential to cause long delays for holiday traffic."

Mr Carter's warning was echoed by Police Sergeant Jim Corbett of the Thames Strategic Traffic Unit.

"It's going to be extremely busy come Labour Weekend. If you have a serious enough accident, it's going to cause major hold-ups until we can get the car off the bridge.

"It's important people go with the flow and focus on the road ahead."

The $47 million construction project on the country's busiest one-lane bridge, connecting Auckland with the Coromandel, was launched last year.

NZTA said the project reached a new milestone this month, with the first pour of concrete forming the bridge deck taking place.

The project also includes 2.5km of new approach roads and a new two-lane roundabout linking State Highway 25 and State Highway 26.

The construction of the roundabout is under way and will be largely completed this summer, allowing the contractor the final 2011/2012 season to complete the 2.5km of roads.

- NZPA