Deal done on Ashburton’s second bridge

Monday, 7 April 2025

Traffic builds up during peak times in Ashburton.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and the Ashburton District Council in recent days signed an agreement to manage the construction of the second Ashburton bridge and connecting road as one project.

The transport agency will, later this year, tender the work as a design and build project.

The NZTA board approved the project in the past week, allowing the work on the ground to get under way.

The bridge would be considered a part of the State Highway network and maintained by NZ Transport Agency.

“This second bridge is so important for our community,” Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said.

Ashburton has become a traffic congestion nightmare for some. Traffic can line up back a few kilometres along the State Highway.

“I’m excited all the necessary paperwork to get it started is now signed and sealed. The agreement council has signed with NZTA means we will soon see and approve concept plans for the second bridge and connecting road, and then have regular meetings during the construction period to ask questions and ensure it is done in a timely manner,” he said in a statement issued by NZTA.

Construction was expected to start next year. Earlier, the mayor said he understood the bridge would not be tolled.

Central Government will fund the 360-metre bridge plus embankments from Chalmers Ave to Carters Tce.

The Ashburton District Council will fund the connecting local road from Carters Tce to Grahams Rd.

The Ashburton District Council has been buying property for the project since 2014.

Brown said the project could be completed away from existing traffic routes, without major disruption to residents and travellers.

Driving through Ashburton has become a nightmare with traffic sometimes queuing for several kilometres along the state highway.

“We’re looking forward to seeing physical works starting as early as possible in 2026, and council will have a better idea of how much the road section will cost once the tender process is complete.”

Council would talk to the community about funding the road construction once the costs were known, he said.

“Our town will be a lot more resilient and our roads much safer when it is complete.”

NZTA acting director regional relationships Ian Duncan said 2021 flooding highlighted the vulnerability of the existing SH1 Ashburton bridge and the state highway network.

A second bridge would provide “insurance” if the SH1 bridge could not be used for some reason.

The second bridge has been in the works since 2010 – when the council of the day threw out the option of a bypass route (from Fairton to Winslow) as it was deemed too expensive and would not have received NZTA backing.