But who will bear the cost of stabilising a slumping river bank beside the new bridge is less clear.
In an emailed statement, NZ Transport Agency senior project manager Phil Dowsett said the cost of the stabilisation work would be "worked through in accordance with the terms of the contract".
Loose or dumped fill was uncovered on the northern bank last year after willow trees were removed, and the slope was covered with plastic after water run-off caused the fill to slump.
Mr Dowsett said a geotechnical investigation had been carried out and design work was under way on an engineering solution.
"The uncontrolled fill has no impact upon the design of the bridge itself."
The precise route of a walking and cycling path that will run across the slope would be determined once the stabilisation treatment was finalised.
Although other cost variations had been made to McConnell Dowell’s contract, the bridge’s design and build cost remained $22million, he said.
The $22million figure does not include the cost of installing water and wastewater pipes through the bridge and its northern approach.
That project, approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council a month ago, was estimated by McConnell Dowell to cost at least $4.8million, although the council has asked the NZTA to review the figure.
The Otago Daily Times reported in November the bridge project had been delayed after unexpectedly hard rock was encountered while drilling the riverbed for the bridge’s second pier.
The curving, two-lane bridge’s opening has been pushed back from this June until Christmas.
