Contractors will be ready to assemble the new Bailey Bridge across the Manuherikia River in Alexandra after Labour Weekend.

Central Otago District Council said it will start to be put together and launched in stages across the river early this week. 

The temporary bridge - connecting Rivers Street to Graveyard Gully Road - will be in place for at least six months, while contractors work on the $2.47M upgrade of the aging Little Valley Bridge.

The aging Little Valley Bridge will be closed while maintenance work is carried out in early 2026. Photo: File

The proposed works aim to extend the life of the bridge and increase its allowable axle load capacity, ensuring it remains safe and serviceable for future use. 

The project includes replacement of key structural timber components, strengthening of connections to a previously retrofitted pedestrian walkway, and minor preventative maintenance to the existing steel trusses.

Contractors work on the foundations of the new Bailey Bridge in Alexandra. Photo: CODC

The council said all light vehicles, and heavy vehicles including truck and trailer units up to Class 1 weight restriction, along with cyclists, will be able to use the single lane Bailey bridge.

The bridge will also accommodate larger non-heavy vehicles such as campervans, motorhomes, and large vans; an improvement on the current bridge’s load limits.

Cyclists may use the Bailey bridge, but no pedestrian access is permitted. Pedestrians will still be able to use the nearby historic Shaky Bridge footbridge. 

The council’s bridge strategy identified at least 30 of the district’s bridges will be at the end, or nearing the end, of their life within the next 10 years.

The estimated cost to replace them all is about $20M, and a specialist bridge engineer identified a backlog of work in 2023 - prioritising several million dollars worth of component replacement.

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