The new two-lane bridges on State Highway 82, which will also include a pedestrian-cycle path, are needed to replace the 129-year-old single-lane wooden structures which were closed for nine days in February after being damaged by flood flows of up to 1552cumecs in the Waitaki River.
That cut the shortest link between Hakataramea and Kurow. The community's patience has run out and there are demands to fast-track the new bridges, which have been in the pipeline for years.
The bridges now carry a speed limit of 20kmh in the 100kmh zone.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean is pleased the construction of the new bridges, which provide a detour if SH1 is closed at Glenavy, remains on target.
"Plans for the new bridges have been released, two months earlier than first indicated, and the process is now going through the resource consent process with Environment Canterbury, Historic Places Trust and local authorities," Mrs Dean said.
Those processes should be completed by September. Then an application would be made for funding.
Mrs Dean said there were no delays with the process, which was normal for public works.
As far as she was aware, the process was continuing despite other demands such as those made by the Canterbury quakes.
The transport agency also intended to keep everyone well informed of the bridges' reconstruction process.
The two-lane hardwood bridges linking Kurow with SH82 had reached the end of serviceable life and required replacement. The bridges also had a history of closure after flood damage.
