Pegasus Post: March 21, 2024

Thursday March 21 2024 3
Battle to priortise ‘lifeline’ bridge
• By Sasha Watson
REPLACING the earthquakedamaged
Pages Rd bridge could
become the No 1 priority in the
draft Regional Land Transport
Plan.
Councillors Celeste Donovan
and Aaron Keown presented the
city council’s submission to the
Canterbury Regional Transport
Committee on Monday urging
it to move the New Brighton
bridge upgrade from No 12 to
No 1 on its list of priorities.
Keown said evidence shows
there is a 26 per cent risk
of a magnitude 8 or higher
earthquake off the coast in
the next 50 years, which could
trigger a tsunami.
Donovan said the project
cannot be delayed any further
due to the need to improve
traffic flow during evacuations
and other emergency scenarios.
“I believe we can’t afford any
delays to this project, as this
bridge serves as a lifeline route
into and out of New Brighton
and the structure carries critical
communication and electricity
cables, as well as water/wastewater
services across the river,”
Donovan said.
“The Pages Rd bridge was initially
ranked as the No 1 project
in our region, but it got moved
down.
“This makes it challenging to
secure government funding, as
this funding typically goes first
MAIN EXIT: An artist’s impression of the new Pages Rd
bridge. Below – City councillor Celeste Donovan says the
current bridge needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
to the projects that are ranked
highest across the region,”
Donovan said.
The bridge was damaged in
the February 22, 2011, earthquake,
while Pages Rd dropped
in places, affecting drainage.
The ‘Gateway to New
Brighton’ project, which includes
the replacement of the bridge,
as well as various changes to
surrounding streets and intersections
is estimated to cost $65
million.
“Despite major redevelopment
work and regeneration across
the city, some key earthquake
legacy projects, such as Pages
Rd, are still yet to be completed,”
Donovan said.
Due to its deprioritisation
and the city council having no
confirmation of Waka Kotahi
NZ Transport Agency funding,
a hearings panel for the Pages
Rd bridge project was going to
be deferred for up to six months
until July. It will now be held on
April 4. Donovan learned of the
delay at a consultation meeting
with the Regional Transport
Committee on February 21 and
asked it reschedule the hearings
as soon as possible.
The committee includes
representatives from the
region’s councils as well as Waka
Kotahi.
The primary role of the
committee is to develop and
implement the Canterbury
Regional Land Transport Plan.
“It means the hearings
panel can begin the process of
hearing from the community
to get feedback on the proposed
design, understanding any
concerns, and changes that need
to be implemented as part of the
final design,” Donovan said.
The new bridge will be more
resilient to future earthquakes
and the effects of climate
change. It will also be designed
to improve access for everyone.
Work to
upgrade
playgrounds
under way
• By Sasha Watson
THREE playgrounds in Burwood
and Shirley are getting major
upgrades at a cost of $368,846
over the next two months.
Work started on the Robin St
playground in Burwood last week.
Once it is completed, the Sabina
St playground in Shirley will be
upgraded and then work will
start on the Chartwell Reserve
playground in Burwood.
Each playground will get
modern climbing, sliding and
sensory activities and take about
20 days to complete. The projects
have been funded through the city
council’s Long Term Plan.
The Chartwell Reserve
playground will get a new double
wave slide, climbing carousel,
playful edging and picnic table.
Waitākiri Primary School
pupils helped with the design and
planning of the new playground
on Chartwell St.
The work is expected to be
completed on May 9, weather
permitting.
The playground upgrades were
due to start in the middle of last
year but city council community
parks manager Al Hardy said
there was a delay during preconstruction
due to personnel
changes.
NEW
ccc.govt.nz/kerbside-changes