Second Ashburton Bridge: Update 19 December 2025

Season's greetings and an end-of-year message from the project team for Ashburton's second bridge

As 2025 wraps up, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what’s been achieved so far and share some of what’s coming up in the new year.

You’ll also find out what happened to the wood from the trees we removed for the trial pile work last month.

The team will be taking a break during the holiday time. There won’t be anyone on site from 18 December 2025 to 5 January 2026. Some kit will remain, safely fenced off.

Ashburton District Council expects to complete installation of its Chalmers Avenue water main (pipe) upgrade up to South Street by 19 December and will be back in January to install the remaining water main from South Street up to the new bridge – that work should be completed by the end of January.

Thanks for your support as we gear up to start construction in 2026.

If you’re heading away on a holiday road trip use the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi journey planner to help plan your travel: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner

Wishing you happy holidays and safe travels.

Logs of opportunity for the Scouts

Trees removed during the recent trial pile work haven’t gone to waste.

The timber has been donated to the Mania-O-Roto Scouts (Ashburton District), who are planning to chop it up and use it for fundraising. Keep an eye out if you need firewood!

Looking back at 2025 milestones

• Business case approved and partnership set: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s Board approved the business case in April, with a partner agreement signed with Ashburton District Council to deliver the second bridge. This locked in how we work together.
• Ground investigations across roads, paddocks and river: We completed early geotechnical investigations in the road corridor and paddocks, followed by drilling around 20 boreholes in and around the Ashburton/Hakatere River to help design and foundation choices.
• Procurement milestone: The team completed the process to bring a construction contractor onboard before detailed design is finished. This will help improve buildability and sequencing as we head into 2026.
• Consents underway: We drafted and lodged regional consent applications and are continuing through the consenting process to gain their approval.
• Trial piling completed: The trial pile work (see photo above) in November has helped the team understand ground behaviour. This will help shape the final design of the piles.
• Survey work and planting plans: You might have spotted our survey drones in the air within the project alignment, or people walking in the area. We mapped the corridor and got started on planting plans.
• Access, ecology and care for place: We started working with ecology specialists to protect local species and enhance nesting habitats around the river corridor. This work will continue into 2026.
• Community information session: We held a drop-in session in September and enjoyed meeting many of you to talk about the project.

Looking forward – what’s happening in early 2026

• Detailed design: This work will continue into 2026. The design team is busy refining plans, including carrying out hydraulic modelling to confirm the final bridge height. Elements of the design will be delivered in packages, with all design work expected to be complete in mid-2026.
• Construction methodology: We’ll continue looking at how the bridge and wider project will be built, and how we will stage work.
• Early enabling works: We’ll start early enabling works, such as removing trees, creating access roads and establishing laydown areas for equipment. A number of trees will need to be removed so we can construct this project. More information and dates will be shared in the new year.
• Project site office: We’ll start setting up our main project office (more on this after the holiday break), along with smaller satellite offices along the alignment.
• Trees and planting: As plans are finalised, the team will confirm any tree removals and replacement planting. This sits alongside ongoing work to enhance river bird nesting areas and protect local habitats as part of the construction planning.
• Community information session: We’re planning to hold another community event in 2026 to update everyone. Keep an eye out for dates and details.

River walking and cycling tracks

Our aim is to keep the walking and cycling tracks open during construction, but there may be short detours or brief delays for safety reasons during some operations from next year.

More information

We're here to help. If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone about this work, please contact us:

Phone: 027 257 2249. or email the team: 2AB@nzta.govt.nz

For more information about the project visit our website nzta.govt.nz/2AB