Work on the second of two new bridges spanning the Waitaki River at Kurow has started and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says the $20.1 million project to replace the existing 132-year-old twin bridges will be finished before the end of next year.
Piling for the larger of the two new two-lane bridges being built on State Highway 82 between Kurow and Hakataramea began on Thursday, and NZTA highway manager Colin Knaggs said the bridge, on the Hakataramea side of the river, would be almost twice the length of the first bridge.
Mr Knaggs said it would take five months to drive the seven piles for the 206m-long bridge.
''Work on site is progressing to schedule, with both the two new bridges expected to be opened by late 2014.
''Piling for the smaller of the two bridges on the Kurow side of the river has been completed and work is well advanced on installing the bridge's crossheads and abutments, structural steel and concrete decking,'' Mr Knaggs said.
