SH26 south of Paeroa will be closed for up to 10 days from 18 November for repairs on the Rotokohu Canal Bridge, with a detour in place.

The flow of water down the canal has undermined the abutments, which need to be repaired with sheet piles and backfilled. The bridge is too narrow to do this while safely maintaining one lane of traffic, says NZ Transport Agency systems manager Rob Campbell.

Drivers planning to head south from Paeroa will need to take SH2/Awaiti Road/Paeroa-Tahuna Road to rejoin SH26, which adds approximately 13 kilometres, or eight minutes, to a journey.