Clutha District Council is aware of some concerns locally about the state of the Hina Hina Bridge, located near Owaka.
Weight and speed restrictions for the bridge were implemented approximately five years ago, and the Council’s expert bridge consultant inspects the bridge regularly and reviews its safety.
The bridge was inspected in October, just last week and then again today (November 13) to determine if any new deterioration, which would be of concern, had taken place.
The latest expert advice based on an inspection today is that there is no cause for concern about the immediate future of the bridge given the current weight and speed restrictions in place.
There are two issues Council is urging people to be aware of, firstly there is a potential risk to people or watercraft travelling under the bridge from falling debris and secondly, further potential damage to the bridge from overloaded vehicles.
Signs have been purchased and will be erected in the next few days to warn people about the risk of falling debris and people are encouraged not to linger under the bridge.
The local yacht club has also been contacted to advise members not to sail under the bridge.
The Council is looking at narrowing the bridge to discourage use by heavy vehicles, and there will be increased monitoring to determine heavy vehicle use.
Members of the public are welcome to report any sightings of heavy vehicles using the bridge to Council.
In the next few months and within the Long Term Plan Process Council will be considering the long term future of the bridge; this will take into account the current climate of constrained road funding and will include an economic assessment of the bridge.
