Work on a long-awaited second bridge over the Ashburton River is officially underway, with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) board signing off on the business case and entering a formal partner agreement with Ashburton District Council (ADC).
The 360-metre bridge and its connecting embankments from Chalmers Ave to Carters Terrace will be funded by central government. Ashburton District Council will fund the local road connection from Carters Terrace to Grahams Road.
No cost figures were disclosed by either the government or council in the announcement, but RNZ has previously reported the most recent estimate at around $130 million, with NZTA expected to fund at least 51%.
NZTA and ADC have agreed to manage the entire construction — including the bridge and connecting road — as a single project. The agency will tender the full work package as a design-and-build contract later this year.
The NZTA board formally approved the project at its meeting last week, clearing the way for physical work to begin.
“This is great news for the people of Mid Canterbury and for the resiliency of State Highway 1,” Associate Transport Minister and Minister for the South Island James Meager says.
“It is so important that we have a resilient roading network to connect our island and ensure the safe and reliable movement of people and goods up and down the island.”
Around 24,000 vehicles cross the existing Ashburton bridge every day –– a vital route not only for locals, but for freight and emergency services across the South Island.
“We all remember when the bridge was knocked out in 2021, and Dunedin was three days away from running out of food,” Meager says.
“Building this bridge was one of our key commitments at the start of this term and locals will be pleased to see work is moving ahead at pace.”
Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown welcomed the news, calling the bridge “so important for our community.”
“I’m excited all the necessary paperwork to get it started is now signed and sealed. The agreement Council has signed with NZTA means we will soon see and approve concept plans for the second bridge and connecting road, and then have regular meetings during the construction period to ask questions and ensure it is done in a timely manner.”
Brown noted the bridge and road have been in the works for years, with land designated in 2014 and property purchases already underway.
“There’ll be a roundabout at the intersection of South Street and Chalmers Avenue, and another at the end of the new connecting road and Grahams Road, and a footpath on the Tinwald side of the new road,” he says.
“We’re looking forward to seeing physical works starting as early as possible in 2026, and council will have a better idea of how much the road section will cost once the tender process is complete.”
Council will consult with the public on how it will fund the road once final costs are known.
“The most important thing for everyone to know is that this project can finally begin, and our town will be a lot more resilient and our roads much safer when it is complete.”
NZTA regional relationships acting director Ian Duncan says the agency was pleased to move forward on the long-anticipated project.
“The second bridge will provide significant resilience and a new road connection across the Ashburton/Hakatere River, using modern design and build techniques,” he says.
