Attempt to fix flood-damaged bridge | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

An attempt will be made to
realign Bradshaws Bridge, on
Maori Rd in Waimate, which
 suffered serious structural dam
age during the May floods.

Waimate District Council
roading assets manager Rob
Moffat said the council hoped to
have contractors on site next
week.

``We hope to have it realigned
and get it open to light traffic,''
he said yesterday.

If this attempt at realignment
goes off without a hitch a whole
new bridge will not be required.

``We will have to see how we
go.

``If something goes wrong dur
ing realignment we may have to

 

look at other options.''

Council roading staff put
together a survey, which was dis
tributed  a fortnight ago to see if
it was used by motorists at the
rate that the council thought.

``We are still waiting to hear
back from a few regular users
but at this stage it hasn't given
us a huge increase in traffic
volumes,'' he said.

``We have had a few double-
ups with the property owners
and lease holders both respond
ing, but these will still be consid
ered.''

The survey forms were due
back on Friday and council chief
executive Tony Alden took the
opportunity to encourage users of
the bridge to fill them out and
return them.

 

 

``We do need these survey
forms back in ASAP,'' Mr Alden
said.

The flood has caused consider
able issues for Waimate residents

 

who are still unable to cross
Bradshaws Bridge.

However, it is estimated that
only a  few residents use the
bridge on a regular basis.

Those who use the bridge
have had to cross at alternative
routes, in some cases taking
them 6km out of the way.

Fifty residents attended a
meeting at the Willowbridge Hall
about a month ago, requesting
that the council provide citizens
with a clear time line for repairs.

The bridge had sustained
some damage before  the flood,
since heavy vehicles had been
using it despite the restricted
weight warning.

It was estimated that 150
people used the bridge on a daily
basis before  its closure.