Alexandra will soon have a new bridge - but it will only be in place across the Manuherikia River until work is completed on the road rail bridge upstream.

Central Otago District Council will soon start work on the aging Little Valley Bridge, at a cost of $2.47M, connecting Alexandra township with Tucker Hill.

The temporary Bailey Bridge on Rivers Street will be finished in two months, allowing residents on the other side of the river access to the town as a temporary detour.

Once the bridge is in place, work will start on replacing the timber deck and beams of the old Little Valley Bridge, which will be closed to traffic from January until June 2026.

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

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

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

Council roading manager Paul Fleet said like many structures throughout the district, the bridge has been experiencing age-related deterioration and needed intervention to ensure continued service and safety.

Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]