Last week, $17 million was allocated for the project in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for 2012-15, and NZTA Southern regional director Jim Harland said the funds would be made available immediately.
Work to build two new steel-truss bridges downstream of the existing structures would start in January, and would take 18 months to complete, he said.
He said plans for the new structures had been drawn up, and a contractor was in place to carry out the work. The bridges would include a dedicated pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, separated by a safety barrier.
Plans for replacement bridges were included in the NLTP by Transport Minister Stephen Joyce, following a year-long campaign of lobbying Mr Joyce by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean.
Civic and community leaders also lobbied for new bridges, especially when the crossing was closed by flood damage, most recently in February last year, severing State Highway 83.
Mrs Dean said the announcement was good news not just for the Waitaki Valley residents, but also for anyone accessing the central South Island.
"Years of doubt are now over.
"All that time spent gathering petitions, meeting with councils, road users and ratepayers, piles of correspondence, together with long meetings at Parliament have paid off.
"The news will bring an end to the valley community's uncertainty."
She said the existing bridges, which had reached the end of their lifespan, would be replaced with two modern two-lane bridges linking State Highway 83 with Kurow on the south bank and Hakataramea on the north bank.
Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer John Sturgeon said the January start date was "great news." He said the old bridges' 20kmh safety speed limit for heavy vehicles had hindered response times.
