Waimakariri council lobbies for bridge replacement

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Replacing the Skew Bridge in west Kaiapoi remains a priority, Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says.

The council has been lobbying Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for funding to assist with the estimated $11 million replacement cost.

"I would like to bring it forward, but without the subsidy it will place 100% of the cost on the council," Gordon said.

He was responding to comments from ratepayer Bruce Bellis, in a council meeting on November 7.

Bellis called on the council to take urgent action to replace the bridge.

"It is a dangerous bridge, it is a very narrow bridge, and it is very old and parts of it are crumbling away.

"It is in urgent need of replacement."

He said the bridge was dangerous because it was narrow, with trucks crossing the bridge with wheels over the centre line.

"It is not uncommon to see parts of rear view mirrors (of trucks) lying on the bridge."

Bellis presented a 2019 report, Skew Bridge Point of Entry, which he said the council had received from Waka Kotahi.

He received the report as part of an Official Information Act request to the council.

But the council’s transport and roading manager, Joanne McBride, said the report was prepared by council staff and submitted to the agency as part of its funding application.

It has been estimated to cost $11m to replace the bridge, with the council seeking a 51% funding share from Waka Kotahi to ease the burden on ratepayers.

"The council has been advocating to Waka Kotahi to replace Skew Bridge for years and has committed to funding the council share of the project," McBridge said.

"To date there has been no funding commitment from Waka Kotahi.

"The Skew Bridge project is required to go through a business case process to secure co-funding from Waka Kotahi before it can proceed, however, when last assessed it did not meet the criteria for funding."

She said the council was continuing to work with Waka Kotahi to explore funding opportunities.

Skew Bridge was listed at number 25 in the priority list for projects to be included in the draft 2024-34 Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan.

Council staff believed the bridge had about 17 years of life remaining.

In the meantime safety improvements were completed last year on the approaches of the bridge and active warning signs have been installed to remind drivers to slow down as they approached the bridge.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.