'Milestone' in bridge project as contractor named

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

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

Work will start on a new double-lane bridge at the northern edge of Blenheim next month as the NZ Transport Agency secures a contractor.

The bridge will replace the existing concrete arch Ōpaoa Bridge, nicknamed the banana bridge, built in 1917.

A mock-up of the new two-lane Ōpaoa Bridge with the old 'banana' bridge to the left as drivers approach from Picton.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) appointed Downer New Zealand to carry out the bridge's construction, set to kick off in early September, ahead of time.

NZTA South Island regional relationships director Jim Harland said the works were expected to have little impact on traffic.

The Ōpaoa Bridge will be retained for pedestrians and cyclists.

An artist's impression of the new bridge, in front of the old bridge.

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'There will be times that stop/go manual traffic management may be required but … the biggest disruption will be when the tie-ins to the existing highway are constructed towards the end of the project,' he said.

Harland said the appointment marked a major milestone in the development of the bridge, along State Highway 1.

The bridge was a critical transport link between Picton and Christchurch, particularly for freight, and for people in Marlborough to access central Blenheim, he said.

'The new bridge will make State Highway 1 more resilient to natural disasters and more secure as New Zealand's key strategic freight route connecting the North and South Islands,' he said.

Work was due to start following a blessing and ground-breaking ceremony with neighbouring residents, iwi and business owners.

The bridge was expected to be completed by mid-2020, including road realignment and landscaping.

NZTA budgeted $21 million to cover the cost of construction. This included professional services and the moving of telecommunication cables in the area.

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

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.

NZTA confirmed that the old bridge - the first concrete bowstring bridge built in New Zealand, and registered as category 1 by Heritage NZ - would be retained for pedestrians and cyclists.

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett welcomed the news and said he was 'excited' for work to get underway.

'Surveys have shown the bulk of the bridge's users are locals,' Leggett said.

'From a safety point of view and for future proofing, too, we need to have a bridge we can use safely.'

Marlborough deputy mayor Terry Sloan said the contract was a 'step in the right direction to getting bridge completed'.

'It's onwards and upwards from here.'