Funding secured to replace century-old bridge no longer fit-for-purpose

Friday, 25 May 2018

The Ōpaoa Bridge, in Blenheim, is to be replaced as it is too narrow and unsuitable for current transport needs.

A new double-lane bridge at the edge of Blenheim has secured funding.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has confirmed construction of the $21 million bridge over the Ōpaoa River in Blenheim will likely start towards the end of this year.

The 101-year-old Ōpaoa Bridge was the first concrete bowstring bridge constructed in New Zealand.

The bridge will replace the existing concrete arched Ōpaoa Bridge, nicknamed the Banana Bridge, built in 1917.

NZTA South Island regional relationships director Jim Harland said the funding certainty would allow the project team to engage a contractor to undertake construction.

The Ōpaoa Bridge will be retained for pedestrians and cyclists.

* Government commits $17.5 million to replace Blenheim's Opawa Bridge

* Blenheim community to have input over new Opawa River bridge**

'We have allocated $21 million to the construction phase of the project, which will include landscaping and road realignment,' Harland said.

'This funding reflects the reality that construction costs have gone up in recent years, and is a significant investment in infrastructure for the local community.'

The new bridge would make State Highway 1 more resilient to natural disasters and secure its place as the strategic freight route between Picton and Christchurch, Harland said.

Investigations leading up to the project identified the existing bridge was too narrow and unsuitable for current transport needs.

Public engagement on the proposal to build a new bridge was positive.

During engagement with the community over the bridge proposal, there was also significant support for a bypass which would allow heavy vehicles to detour around Blenheim.

Harland said it was possible a bypass would emerge as an option in future years, as the NZTA continued to assess the resilience and safety of State Highway 1.

'But that does not change the need to have a bridge over the Ōpaoa River which is fit for purpose so that commuters can access the central township,' Harland said.

Construction on the new bridge was expected to start in about 18 months.

Marlborough District Council deputy mayor Terry Sloan said the announcement was 'the best news I've had from NZTA in my time at council, which is eight years'.

'It's not just our local communities that will benefit, it's the whole national land transport network,' Sloan said.

'Congestion around the bridge has the potential to affect the emergency services' day-to-day work, and that had become a concern for me in recent times too.

'It has been a long and arduous process and the government announcement that it was re-visiting all state highway projects was a major concern to me,' Sloan said.

Sloan was also the Chair of the Regional Land Transport Committee and the South Island Regional Land Transport Chairs Group.

'I've been at various transport meetings recently and have been doing my best to keep this project at the front of the officials' minds,' Sloan said.

'It's a great feeling knowing that we are going to get what we were originally promised.'

Harland said his team would continue to work with key stakeholders, affected landowners and leaseholders during construction.

NZTA also confirmed the old bridge, registered as category 1 by Heritage NZ, would be retained for pedestrians and cyclists.

It was the first concrete bowstring bridge constructed in New Zealand.