Waihenga Bridge

NZ Land Transport Authority members recently called on the Mayor with an update on the current status of the Waihenga bridge. Further evaluation has been made on the bridge with the result being that it is now considered to have approximately forty years of useable life left.

This means that it is not going to be replaced in the foreseeable future. Particularly given the state of the country’s funds where the need to cut budgets has resulted in many previously ‘on the table projects’ being wiped.

However assurance was given that strengthening work would be carried out on the piles so that the bridge did not need to be closed every time there was a ‘fresh’.

Mayor Staples commented that this makes it important that the council keeps the topic to the fore with the NZTA and press for the work to be included in the next budget round. “The ideal would be a new bridge to address the narrowness issue, but this will not be forthcoming under the current economic climate. At least if we can get the bridge repaired Martinborough will not be cut off on such a regular basis”.