NZTA unmoved by English

Even criticism from the deputy prime minister has not prompted the NZ Transport Agency to immediately release a report into a new Queenstown bridge.

The agency recently reviewed a $25 million bridge proposal for the Kawarau River and endorsed its original site.

Speaking in Queenstown yesterday, deputy PM Bill English said the agency should release its analysis behind the decision.

''It is public information. They don't own it; it should be readily available.''

Asked if it would release the information yesterday, agency communications manager Bob Nettleton, of Dunedin, said: ''Not today. We are looking to get some information out tomorrow.''

Last month the Queenstown Lakes District Council asked the agency to review its decision to build a 250m-long curved bridge immediately downstream of the one-lane existing bridge.

That followed lobbying by a vocal group of residents, who want the bridge built downstream, to link to a new road to the east of Queenstown Airport's main runway.

Last week the agency confirmed it would continue at the site it originally chose and refused to release its analysis before a meeting with residents on Wednesday night.

david.williams@odt.co.nz

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