Council approves replacement ‘lifeline’ bridge for New Brighton

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

Christchurch City Council has approved the $80m new design for the Pages Rd bridge.

A replacement $80 million “lifeline” bridge has finally been approved for New Brighton, but construction is unlikely to start any time soon.

Christchurch City Council also needs to find an additional $14.3m to fund the project, after the budget increased from the expected $65.7m.

The new bridge design was approved at a council meeting on Wednesday, following public consultation and a hearings process.

The council has been lobbying the Government to contribute toward the project, which could be eligible for a 51% subsidy, but no decision had yet been made.

The bridge is considered a crucial emergency evacuation route and also connects thousands of New Brighton residents with utilities like water, power and fibre.

Cr Celeste Donovan, who chaired a hearings panel, said on Wednesday a number of changes had been made to the design following public consultation.

Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson launched a petition in July to put pressure on the Government to fund a new Pages Rd bridge.

Some 261 individuals and organisations gave feedback on the project and draft design in 2023. A staff summary found most people supported all proposed changes.

Donovan said the recommended design would not please everyone but it was the best design for travel to and from New Brighton.

The new bridge would be built alongside the existing one, and would align with Hawke St, rather than Seaview Rd. The design also involved closing off a part of Owles Tce.

The existing bridge was damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and only meets 15%-20% of the new building standards, so it could collapse during another earthquake.

Donovan pointed out there was a 26% risk of a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake in the next 50 years, so a strong reliable bridge was essential.

She said the project had reached a milestone on Wednesday with the design being unanimously approved at council.

The project had taken 13 years to get to this point and it could not afford to have any other delays, she said.

After the meeting, council head of transport Lynette Ellis said she did not know when work on the new bridge would begin. The project would now move to the detailed design phase.

The $65.7m in the council’s budget was set aside between 2026 and 2030.

When asked what had led to the increase in the project cost, Ellis said it was mostly related to the approaches to the bridge, which needed to be useable following a natural disaster.

But she said all costs were estimates and would be refined and clarified.

Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson launched a petition last month to put pressure on the Government to fund the new bridge.