Tawanui Bridge Closure Information

This information has been provided by the Clutha District Council 19th February, 2010.

"Tawanui Bridge (bridge 239), spanning the Catlins River about 12km west of Owaka, will be closed until further notice. 

Clutha District Council plans to replace the existing timber bridge with a single lane concrete structure.  However, there is a process to go through to secure funding, and for the construction of the new bridge.  At this stage, the earliest anticipated completion date is November 2010.

In the meantime, people travelling to The Catlins River Walk or Department of Conservation Tawanui Camping Ground should turn off the Papatowai Highway at Owaka onto Saunders Street (which soon becomes Owaka Valley Road).  They should then turn off Owaka Valley Road at Morris Saddle Road and follow this to the camping ground and walking track on Catlins Road.

People travelling to accommodation on Catlins Valley Road should follow Papatowai Highway from the north or south, then turn off Papatowai Highway at Catlins Valley Road.

To download a map, go to Downloads Page.

Council realises the closure of the Tawanui Bridge will continue to inconvenience motorists.  However, approving hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money for the new bridge takes time.  If the construction of the new bridge is approved and can satisfy the NZTA requirements then this will be an asset for the surrounding community that will last for many years to come".