Bridge set for overdue safety work

The first step in an overdue refurbishment work on the Little Valley Bridge in Alexandra to ensure the vital link can safely support modern heavy vehicle loads is due to begin.

Central Otago District Council roading manager Paul Fleet said the work involved replacement of all the timber components of the bridge, as that was the only access to the other side of the Manuherekia River.

Work on a new temporary bridge at the Linger and Die Reserve to provide access for most vehicles would begin during Labour Weekend.

Pedestrians would experience a little bit of disruption as they would need to cross at the Shaky Bridge, he said.

The potential disruptions as illustrated in the map were a worst case scenario and were subject to change as the council was still in negotiations with a preferred tender looking at options to potentially increase the accessibility and minimise disruption across the Little Valley Bridge.

The work to install the temporary bridge would be completed and ready for use before Christmas, and it would be removed once the Little Valley Bridge was reopened.

Work on the Little Valley Bridge is scheduled to begin in mid-January 2026 and work be completed mid to late June that year.

Mr Fleet said the work being undertaken to improve the Little Valley Bridge would be a good thing for all users of the bridge, including farmers who regularly cross the river as part of their daily work.