Contractors are on target to next month start building two new bridges worth about $18.5 million across the Waitaki River between Kurow and Hakataramea.
That assurance has come from the New Zealand Transport Agency after rumours the project was being delayed by negotiations with Maori over removing gravel from the river to stockpile for the project.
NZTA state highway manager Colin Knaggs said the contractor was at present working through the resource consent process for the excavation of gravel from the river to be used for the approaches carrying State Highway 82.
''This process includes consulting with the local runanga. Our contractor advises these talks are progressing well and are expected to be completed and work under way within the next couple of weeks as scheduled,'' Mr Knaggs said.
The resource consent process had not delayed the start on the bridges, Mr Knaggs said.
A traditional sod-turning ceremony was held on the island between the 132-year-old wooden bridges on March 7, with contractor McConnell Dowell Constructors, official guests and about 130 present.
At that time, the contractor said work would start next month on the new, twin-lane concrete bridges and be completed by September or October next year.
