Clutha District Council is pleased the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has now approved its share of funding for the Clydevale Bridge strengthening project.

The initial National Land Transport Programme released by the NZTA in early September listed Clydevale Bridge strengthening as a ‘reserve project’. This meant the NZTA considered its priority not high enough to receive funding assistance in 2012-15.

Council submitted further information to the NZTA about the project, in particular its significance in terms of inter-regional freight, and network security, to see if the priority could be lifted.

Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he was thrilled to advise that the NZTA yesterday confirmed it would now provide Council with a 69% share of the project, estimated to cost about $974,000 in total.

"It is fantastic to see common sense has prevailed, especially when you consider the Clydevale Bridge is the only major bridge in the district over the Clutha River capable of handling wide loads, and a new dairy processing plant nearby," Mayor Cadogan said.

The Clydevale Bridge also serves as an alternative route when the Beaumont Bridge, on State Highway 8, is under repair.

"Council had already budgeted for its share of the Clydevale Bridge strengthening project, but it just wouldn’t have been viable without the NZTA share. Now we know that the NZTA will contribute 69% of the total project cost, we can get on with strengthening this inter-regionally significant asset," Mayor Cadogan said.

The Clydevale Bridge spans the Clutha River about 22km north-west of Balclutha. New weight restrictions (50% of Class One; 23 tonne maximum) were placed on the bridge in November 2009 after a detailed historical investigation found it was never initially designed and constructed for Class One (44 tonne) loads.

Last year, Council resolved to seek an upgrade of the bridge to Class One load capacity rather than seeking to replace the key strategic asset. Strengthening would enable the bridge to take standard Class 1 (44 tonne) heavy vehicles on a regular basis, rather than requiring a permit to be issued for a restricted term.

Strengthening is estimated to cost about $974,000, of which Council’s share would be about $300,000. A new single lane bridge was estimated to cost about $5.8 million, of which Council’s share would be about $1.8 million.

Manager District Assets Jules Witt said the contract for the bridge strengthening project would be put out to tender before the end of the year, with the work expected to take place in the first half of 2013.