Replacing the twin Waitaki River bridges between Kurow and Hakataramea has moved a step closer, with the estimated $20 million project being included in the draft 2012-15 Canterbury regional land transport strategy.
The bridges, which are closed when the Waitaki River floods, are in the strategy approved this week by the Canterbury Regional Transport committee.
Committee chairman Rex Williams said an updated report on the project was on the meeting agenda.
Waimate Mayor John Coles outlined the importance of the replacement of the bridges to the Waitaki Valley community.
This was supported by a petition presented last year to then-Minister of Transport Steven Joyce.
"The committee is optimistic about the approval of construction funding for replacement bridges," Mr Williams said.
Listing the project in the draft programme was an important step towards funding being approved in the 2012-15 national land transport programme launched on August 31 this year.
Mr Williams encouraged people to make submissions on the draft Canterbury programme that detailed proposed land transport activities in the Canterbury region for the next three years.
Submissions on the programme open on March 17 and close on the April 20.
Submissions will be heard on May 28.
The proposal is to replace the 132-year-old single-lane bridges with two-lane concrete bridges.
The Government and New Zealand Transport Agency have been under pressure from the community for the project to start as soon as possible because of the effect closures had on Kurow and Hakataramea.
Last year, the bridges were closed five times, including for nine days in January when flood flows damaged piles.
Other closures were to remove willows from around piles and for maintenance, inspections and repairs.
