Construction analyst Mike Blackburn says planning needs to start now on replacing the Rakaia River State Highway 1 bridge.
Associate Transport and South Island Minister James Meager has responded, saying a study is expected to begin by mid 2027.
Blackburn called for replacement of what is New Zealand’s longest road bridge on his Construction Matters Facebook page, attracting more than 300 comments, mostly in support.
He said the bridge represents a single point of failure in a region that continues to grow.
There was already a cautionary tale in the delay getting Ashburton’s second bridge off the ground.
‘‘The need for a second Ashburton bridge was first identified in a transport study back in 2006. Construction finally gets under way this year – 20 years later,’’ Blackburn said.
The Rakaia bridge opened in 1939.
It runs parallel to a rail bridge.
Meager told The Ashburton Courier that New Zealand Transport Authority Waka Kotahi advises the current Rakaia bridge had 20-plus years of life remaining.
Nevertheless, the roading authority was looking at further improvements for the state highway corridor south of Christchurch.
That would include a study looking at future capacity, resilience, potential four-laning and replacement of bridges, including the Rakaia.
The study was expected to begin towards the end of the current threeyear National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) which goes through to June 30, 2027.
“Beyond this planning work, any more substantial investigations or project development for the bridge would be subject to funding being prioritised in future NLTPs,” Meager said.
