Two bridge options for Beaumont

Option A includes a route similar to the existing highway, whereas Option B moves the highway behind the Beaumont Hotel and cuts through several properties in the area. Photos from ODT archives.
Option A includes a route similar to the existing highway, whereas Option B moves the highway behind the Beaumont Hotel and cuts through several properties in the area. Photos from ODT archives.
Beaumont Bridge.
Beaumont Bridge.
A car drives down Beaumont Bridge.
A car drives down Beaumont Bridge.

Two options for a new bridge across the Clutha River at Beaumont have been presented to the local community, as the NZ Transport Agency consults on a preference.

Beaumont residents all agree on the need for a new bridge, but the community could be divided on the best option if those spoken to yesterday is any indication.

The road and existing 130-year-old one-lane bridge are the main transport corridor for light and heavy traffic taking State Highway 8 from Dunedin to Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes districts.

About 1800 vehicles cross the bridge each day.

Two proposals have been sent to Beaumont residents - each identifying a new broad potential ''corridor'', one taking a direct line south of the Beaumont Hotel and the other curving closer to the existing bridge and retaining the highway in front of the hotel.

Both proposals would place a new bridge downstream of the existing structure and would require a realignment of the existing State Highway 8.

Beaumont resident Doug Joyce said he was pleased to see plans for replacing the bridge, as having a one-lane bridge on a state highway was ''pathetic''.

Mr Joyce said the only realistic proposal was ''option A'' which kept the highway in front of the hotel, which was central to the tiny township.

He said moving the highway behind the hotel would ''kill the community'', as no-one would stop there any more.

Beaumont Residents Group secretary-treasurer Margaret Healy did not support either of the proposals, as they both affected privately-owned land.

One proposal would cut through several properties while the other could potentially cut through her own.

An NZTA spokesman said there were several alignment options within each of the proposed design envelopes or corridors.

An open day and information session would be held at the Beaumont Community Hall on December 15, from 3pm.

The project was at an early stage and Opus had been contracted to write a detailed business case in an initial ''optioneering stage''.

Feedback from the consultation would be used to identify a preferred option and the information would be presented to the Clutha District Council early next year.

Scaffolding remains on the bridge permanently as part of NZTA's structural monitoring and maintenance of the historic bridge.

About $3million has been spent on maintaining and strengthening the bridge since 2008.

The bridge is scheduled to be replaced by 2021 and NZTA has previously said it could cost $20million.

Council service delivery manager Jules Witt said it was too early for the council to comment on the proposals. Its preference was to wait and get feedback from the community before commenting directly.

samuel.white@odt.co.nz

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