The proposed new bridge

Wellington, July 29 NZPA - The ground will today be broken to start work to replace a one-lane bridge at a traditional holiday bottleneck in the Coromandel today.

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Steven Joyce will break the ground in a ceremony marking the start of construction of the new $47 million 580-metre two-lane steel Kopu Bridge, near Thames.

The existing 81-year-old, one-lane bridge on State Highway 25 carries an average 7700 vehicles a day, with many more at peak holiday periods.

Funding for the project was announced in February -- it was one of several projects the government wanted to fast track.

Construction contractors were to be announced today with the bridge to be completed by April 2012.

During holiday weekends traffic was delayed for as much as three hours, the Transport Agency said.

Work would include 2.5km of approach roads, including a direct link to a new four-leg roundabout at an intersection with State Highway 26, the main route between Thames and Paeroa.

NZPA