The Clutha District Council has opted to upgrade the existing Clydevale Bridge across the Clutha River to class 1 load capacity.
Strengthening the existing bridge to class 1 would cost about $974,000, with the council's share estimated to cost $390,000.
The decision, which follows the recommendation by council staff, means building a new bridge would be reconsidered in 20 years.
District assets manager Jules Witt told councillors at this month's council meeting the upgrade would remove speed and weight restrictions on the bridge. A class 1 bridge can carry a truck weighing 44 tonnes.
Staff also looked at the cost of increasing bridge capacity from a single-traffic lane to dual lanes.
This would now be considered in years when bridge replacement was again evaluated.
The bridge spans the Clutha River about 25km northwest of Balclutha, and is strategically located, linking Clutha with Central Otago. It is the district's only major bridge over the river capable of handling wide loads.
