The new Taparahi Bridge on Coromandel's State Highway 25A has been unveiled by the Prime Minister on Friday, with media getting a first look.
It's set to open next week after a blessing by mana whenua, three months ahead of schedule and under budget.
A crucial road between Kōpū and Hikuai, it was built to replace a section of road washed away during severe storms in early 2023.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the process for building and consenting the Taparahi Bridge could be a blueprint for other highways.
"What you're seeing here on this site, for example, is a lot of standardisation in terms of how this bridge has been built."
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) / Waka Kotahi had teams working 24-hour shifts, on-site and off-site at Eastbridge in Napier, where workers manufactured the steel girders.
An existing bridge design was also used, while steel plates for another bridge were repurposed.
"Why can't we do that across the rest of the country in this way?"
Luxon suggested the process could be used for the Brynderwyn Hills in Te Tai Tokerau / Northland.
"We need to find an alternative pathway through the Brynderwyns."
He also said the Government could work more with the private sector on big infrastructure projects.
The 124m-long Taparahi Bridge features piles 10-metres deep into the bedrock, plus 75 tonnes of concrete to stabilise the surrounding earth.
Started in June under the previous Labour Government, it took just under seven months to build.
"I think this is a gold-plated example of what we want to see a lot more of across the country," Luxon told reporters on Friday.
"We have to have a lot more ambition."
Jo Wilton from Waka Kotahi/NZTA said the route will open by December 20.
"We're thrilled to be able to announce that the two sides of the Coromandel Peninsula will be reconnected once again in time for the summer holidays."
The construction cost, once complete, is expected to be $43 million - under the $50m estimate.
Businesses in Whangamatā, Whitianga, Tairua and other holiday hotspots have been struggling with the lack of visitors.
Pan Sharma from the Ōnemana Boatshed Cafe has only had a trickle of customers in the past year.
"We got impacted big time. We were doing $1000 to $1500 a day, which has gone down to $80 to $90, sometimes $20 a day."
Terry Smith, who manages Paku Lodge Resort Motel in Tairua, told Newshub the business lost 70 percent of its clients when the original road was destroyed.
"Everyone is hanging on by a thread," he said, but getting visitors back would "make such a big difference to everyone".
Ange Joyce, who manages the Kitchenese Deli & Pizzeria in Whangamatā, said Taparahi Bridge is a lifesaver.
"It's going to stop us from becoming a ghost town which is great... or a ghost peninsula."
After the final touches and a lick of paint, visitors will once again flock back to the peninsula for summer.
Watch the video below for a look at the new Taparahi Bridge. If you can't see it on your Newshub app, tap here.
