The old Pokapu Bridge near Kawakawa is gone. Replaced. It’s a tale of floods and resilience. This is Kawakawa Coast Road Bridge No 1.
For years the old Pokapu Bridge caused trouble. Heavy rain sent floodwaters straight into homes in Moerewa and Otiria. The Kawakawa Coast Road Bridge No 1 area became a basin. Water couldn’t escape. Homes flooded regularly.
Then came a $7 million flood-reduction scheme. The old Pokapu Bridge was demolished. A new three-span 60-metre bridge was built. It’s higher. Much wider. Three times wider than the old bridge. The Kawakawa Coast Road Bridge No 1 project also included a 900m-long spillway. This redirects floodwaters. The water now flows safely into the Waiharakeke Stream.
Locals were highly engaged with the project. They worked closely with the construction crew. They were happy. Flooding was a major problem. The new Kawakawa Coast Road Bridge No 1 and spillway will help hugely.
The new bridge opened on October 7. It’s not a complete flood solution. But future floods will be less severe. Areas previously flooded to half a metre will see ankle-deep water instead. The old bridge’s concrete beams were salvaged. They’re now used in Whangarei’s Quarry Gardens. The Kawakawa Coast Road Bridge No 1 story is one of community effort and improved safety. A success story. A testament to human ingenuity in the face of nature’s power.