MPs from both sides of the fence back the need for a second Ashburton/Hakatere Bridge, but that doesn’t guarantee its fate.
The business case for the $113.6 million project is now in the hands of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency with the Ashburton District Council then planning to take the case to the Government to fund an estimated $36m shortfall.
Rangitata MP Jo Luxton is backing the proposed second bridge, and said she is continuing to advocate for roading resilience for our district with her ministerial colleagues.
“When the Ashburton/Hakatere Bridge was damaged in the flood event last year it really highlighted for us all the importance of the bridge for connectivity throughout the South Island,” Luxton said.
“The business case for a second bridge has been a long time coming and it’s great to have this analysis putting the case forward for a second bridge.
“I understand Waka Kotahi is reviewing the business case and will be working with the council on the process ahead.
National’s Selwyn MP, Nicola Grigg, who hails from Mt Somers and is currently the caretaker for the Rangitata electorate while the party selects its new candidate, said the need for the second bridge was made abundantly clear in last year’s floods.
“Creating resilience in the network is critical and is something we know needs to happen, and fully support,” Grigg said.
But supporting the project and funding it are two different things.
Waka Kotahi is expected to decide on the business case by November, a decision on if it will go ahead and how much of the project it will fund.
The council, which has currently only budgeted $7.5m, then plans to plead their case to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her deputy and Finance Minister Grant Robertson for more funding.
Grigg was sceptical about how successful that plan will be, taking aim at the current Government’s management of the National Land Transport Fund which she said has been “gutted – leaving little money to invest in roading upgrades”.
However, Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown met with Robertson at a post-budget event in Timaru in May, where he was told the second bridge was in the budget.
As Brown said at the time, being in the budget isn’t a guarantee.

• By Jonathan Leask