Twenty years after the idea was first mooted, construction of Ashburton’s $144m second bridge project officially starts today.
Minister of Transport Chris Bishop and Associate Transport Minister James Meager will be on site along with NZTA and Ashburton District Council representatives to celebrate construction getting under way.
Bishop said the second crossing over the Ashburton River is going to be a game-changer for residents moving around and through the Mid Canterbury town.
“It will also be important for economic growth as traffic volumes ease for commuters, tourists, and freight operators on the existing crossing via State Highway 1.”
The project is one of the Government’s Roads of Regional Significance being delivered by the NZ Transport Agency in partnership with the Ashburton District Council.
Meager, who is also the South Island Minister and Rangitata MP, said the second bridge and new connection road will be 2.46km long and include two traffic lanes, on-road cycle facilities, and a shared path.
“About 24,000 vehicles use 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.
“Having a second crossing connecting Tinwald to Ashburton provides a critical back-up and lifeline in the event of crashes, emergencies or severe weather events that may impact SH1, which has occurred in recent years.”
Fletcher Construction is ready to hit the ground running after helping to develop the detailed design for the project over the last few months, he said.
“The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2027, with an estimated total project cost of between $134 to $144 million.”
The full details of the project are expected to be released at the event this afternoon.
A yet-to-be-named road to the south will have new roundabouts at the intersections with South St, Wilkins Rd, and where it connects to Grahams Rd.
Council is budgeting $20m for the new road in it 2026/27 annual plan and chief executive Hamish Riach has suggested additional cost the following year as the project is expected to be completed in November 2027.
“There will be a sum of money to be spent over and above the allowance in next year’s annual plan,” he said.
The council is also spending $3.9m to install a new 1.6km water main across the bridge and along the new road to provide a second connection for the Ashburton water supply to Tinwald.
The other pipe is on the existing SH1 bridge, and like the second bridge, the second water main is a resilience project.
The SH1 pipe had to be shut down off as a precaution when the bridge was damaged by floodwaters and slumped in 2021.
It’s been 20 years since the Ashburton transportation study identified a second bridge across the Hakatere/Ashburton River would be beneficial for local traffic and ease congestion on State Highway 1.
In 2010, a report explored 13 options for the second bridge, including bypasses to the west and east of the town, and various options through the town.
A second report in 2011 focused on eight options.
A decision was made in 2013 to go with the Chalmers Ave route linking up with Grahams Rd and to seek land designation.
Work on a business case to secure Government funding started at the end of 2018.
The council budgeted $7.5m in its long-term plan in 2021, when the initial estimate was around $37m.
The council’s detailed business case in 2022 estimated the actual cost of the entire project to be $113.6m, but it escalated to $130m by 2024.
At the end of 2024, the Government announced it would pay for a bridge across the river, from Chalmers Avenue to Carters Terrace, and council would pay for a new connecting road.
Tree felling along the riverbanks has started, and materials have arrived on the site.
NZTA has also confirmed that, as the council requested, gravel is being removed from the Hakatere/Ashburton River for the project.
