Ashburton’s historic railway footbridge could be in for a makeover.
The Ashburton District Council is investigating what can be done to the 105-year-old structure and how to fund it.
The council is in the process of obtaining a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the heritage overbridge which infrastructure services group manager, Neil McCann, said will include what condition the bridge should be maintained to and if any changes or additions, such as lights, can be made.
Work has started on the CMP he said and it should be completed as early as the end of July.
A detailed inspection in August 2018 identified an estimated $290,450 worth of maintenance and repairs, which McCann said included painting the ironwork and replacing some decayed timber.
McCann said an inspection of the bridge in November 2021 confirmed the work required.
Once a CMP is completed the work will then be programmed once funding is secured.
Like any project, council roading manager Mark Chamberlain said funding is the big issue.
“We have $100,000 to do maintenance on all our structures including that bridge,” Chamberlain said.
“If I had to choose to spend that on one bridge or another, I think I would choose one with the traffic on it.
“But it is a heritage listed bridge, so we do need to look after it.”
McCann said that once the CMP is received “we will make enquiries to determine what funding opportunities are available”.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has the bridge listed as a category 2 heritage place, but the Rail Heritage Trust had the former railway station and footbridge listed together on its historic register, so had designated the bridge as being demolished along with the station.
The council is contacting the Trust to ensure its register is updated to list the footbridge as still existing as a stand-alone item, and also plans to enquire about possible funding assistance.

• By Jonathan Leask