Major vegetable growers and contractors near Mt Ruapehu are faced with a dilemma - use a rickety old bridge or have their business kneecapped.
The district council has imposed a tight weight limit on the Mangateitei rail overbridge after engineers found 'severe' defects.
The council says changes in road funding models mean it is more uncertain if the Government will pay a 75 percent share to replace the bridge.
In the mean time it is putting in cameras to spot overweight trucks.
Local contractor Dave Hammond says that means he is having to break the law as he can't afford to run an empty truck and there is no other public road out.
Scott Young, whose family firm Kim Young and Sons carts huge amounts of carrots and potatoes across the bridge, says the situation jeopardises lives and livelihoods
