From NZ Transport Agency

In this project newsletter, we would like to share a project milestone with you, show you a visual of the bridge and update you on the latest river bird nesting enhancement work.

But before that, a reminder to:

Come and meet some of the team! Next week, we’re holding an information session where you can pop in, see plans and ask questions:

Thursday 11 September, anytime between 3.30 and 6.30pm,  at the Event Space at Te Whare Whakatere (the Ashburton Library and Civic Centre),  2 Baring Square East, Ashburton

We look forward to seeing you.

A project milestone

We have completed the procurement process, we talked about in the last newsletter, to bring a construction contractor onboard before the detailed designs are completed.

Yesterday, the Minister for the South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager announced the chosen contractor is Fletchers Construction.

This is an important milestone in the project’s progress.

Fletchers Construction will be refining the details of the design, looking at improved construction methods, understanding the local opportunities and addressing any potential issues.

We're expecting to start construction during the first quarter of 2026. Before that we’ll share an updated design and construction programme with you.

Here's a visual of the current preliminary design of the second bridge:

Braided River Nesting Birds

As advised in the last update, we’ve been working closely with Environment Canterbury’s rivers and biodiversity teams to provide an enhanced habitat for bird nesting - particularly for the threatened black-billed gull (Tarāpuka) that nests in colonies, as well as ‘single nesters’ such as dotterels – ahead of the breeding season, away from the project area and ahead of construction starting.

We’ve enhanced nesting habitat across a wider area of the riverbed near the existing SH1 bridge as part of our mitigation activities.

We started with clearing the gravel beds - the birds need bare gravel for nesting. The removal of vegetation also removes any potential habitat for predators. We then formed an island upstream of the SH1 bridge, by diverting the river flow, to create a gravel area raised above the water level to encourage the birds to nest there. This work was completed in August.

For more information on the Second Ashburton Bridge project and to sign up for email updates, visit nzta.govt.nz/2AB