Over the years, the local community has raised concerns regarding the existing bridge and State Highway 1 on:
· Safety issues for traffic turning right onto the state highway from east Tinwald
· Delays from closure of the existing bridge route
· Life of the existing bridge and predicted future growth in Tinwald and Lake Hood
· Traffic congestion at intersections with the state highway and intersections north and south of the existing bridge
· Pedestrian and cyclist issues
Reasons for Building a Second Urban Bridge
· Improve road safety for all road users
· Improve connectivity for everybody in the Ashburton urban area
· Meet the current and future needs of the Ashburton district/community
· Provide security for the Ashburton road network and state highway by providing alternative access in the event the current bridge cannot be used
· Ensure that State Highway 1 continues to take its inter-district and heavy traffic
The Ashburton Transportation Study 2008 commissioned jointly by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and the Ashburton District Council confirmed that:
· A second road bridge across the Ashburton River would be more beneficial for local traffic than inter-district traffic
· There are significant traffic pressure points from traffic crossing the bridge at peak hours
· These pressure points would become worse as the town continues to grow
· A significant proportion of traffic crossing the bridge was local traffic
· Relieving pressure can only be achieved by providing an alternative route between Tinwald and Ashburton for local traffic
The study also found Ashburton was vulnerable should the current bridge stop functioning, the nearest alternative is approximately 60 km away (Thompsons Track). Concerns have been raised as a result of the earthquakes in Canterbury over the last two years