A long-awaited second bridge over the Ashburton River has moved a step closer, with a key agreement signed to advance detailed design ahead of construction next year.
Minister for the South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager confirmed the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has signed a contract with Fletchers Construction to progress the detailed bridge design, so that construction can kick off next year.
“This is real progress towards the National Party’s campaign promise to start construction of the bridge in our first term.
“A second crossing has been a long-time coming, with around 24,000 vehicles using the current bridge daily. This is a key route for ensuring our people and goods can get up and down the South Island and needs to be future proofed.
“The new bridge will be a vital connection for Tinwald to Ashburton, relieving congestion on State Highway 1, and improving network resilience south to Otago in the case of emergency events like flooding,” Meager says.
Crown delivery funding was secured in December, with NZTA approving the business case and signing a partner-delivery agreement with Ashburton District Council in April. Geotechnical investigations in and around the river have been completed, with borehole samples under analysis to confirm ground conditions.
“The project team is progressing property purchases, statutory approvals, and procurement. Fletchers Construction, together with its main design consultant AECOM, will refine the design, explore better construction methods, make the most of local opportunities, and address any potential challenges,” Meager says.
“A design and construction contract is expected to be signed at the end of the year. I look forward to announcing next steps once negotiations have concluded.”
The new 360-metre bridge and embankments will connect Chalmers Ave to Carters Terrace. Central government will fund the bridge, while the council will fund the local road link from Carters Terrace to Grahams Road. The full project is to be delivered under a single design-and-build contract to be tendered later this year.
Industry groups have previously welcomed the project. The NZ Trucking Association called confirmation of work a major step forward for freight and transport resilience in Mid Canterbury.
About 24,000 vehicles cross the existing State Highway 1 bridge each day. When flooding closed the bridge in 2021, freight routes were disrupted across the South Island, with supplies in Dunedin reportedly within three days of running out.
