People crossing the Matapihi Rail Bridge on foot while the walkway is closed for repairs are causing safety concerns.

The pathway was closed on October 23 to allow council to undertake repairs on the pedestrian walkway built in the 1950s to prevent the annual deaths of people crossing via the railway tracks.

People are continuing to cross the Matapihi Rail Bridge despite the pathway being closed for repairs.

Since then several groups of people have been seen walking along the rail track and Mayor Stuart Crosby says those who cross the bridge not only risk being hit by a train but also risk tripping and falling off the bridge.

"This is a very serious safety issue and the last thing we want is someone being hurt or killed because they were stupid enough to walk across that bridge on the railway tracks,” says Stuart.

'We have increased the security presence at either end of the bridge and surveillance cameras have been installed. The police will be contacted whenever anyone is seen walking across the bridge on the railway tracks."

The Matapihi Rail Bridge was built in 1924, but the footpath wasn't added until the 1950s, between then and the construction of the footbridge in the 1950s, about 30 people were killed while crossing the bridge on the railway tracks.

Many drowned after jumping off the bridge to escape being run over by trains.

It is illegal to be on railway tracks and bridges, other than at proper crossings, and anyone doing this can be prosecuted for up to $10,000.

The bridge is set to be closed to pedestrians and cyclists until late January 2013.

Ramps at each end of the bridge and the hand rails are also being upgraded. Once the work is finished the pathway will be safer and slightly wider.

The bridge is an important access route for pedestrians and cyclists between Matapihi, the Bayfair/Arataki area and the city centre with up to 200 people using the pathway on the bridge every day.

Because Matapihi residents are the biggest users of the bridge pathway Tauranga City Council is providing a free mini bus service for Matapihi residents between Matapihi and Bayfair six days a week while the bridge is closed.

In May the bridge was deemed unsafe for cyclists due to the height of the barrier, unsafe for groups of pedestrians because of weaknesses in parts of the 50 year old wooden structure, and some parts of the barrier may be unsafe for leaning on.

Repairs are expected to cost in the region of $770,000.