Last month it was confirmed a new bridge connecting Carters Tce and Chalmers Ave would go ahead.
In a statement, Mr Meager said the news was a victory for the local community and a positive step forward for local transport resiliency.
"This is an infrastructure project that our region has desperately needed, and I’m delighted that NZTA and Ashburton District Council have reached an agreement on the funding mix so we can get on and start building the bridge.
"The floods of 2021 showed just how vulnerable our community is when there’s only one crossing point handy to SH1. With 24,000 vehicles using the current bridge daily, any disruption has massive implications not just for Ashburton, but for the entire South Island supply chain."
He said the new bridge would deliver multiple benefits for the local community, including improved resilience, better connectivity between Ashburton and Tinwald, and would unlock significant areas for future development.
"I have advocated strongly for this project, and stood alongside the Prime Minister in Ashburton when he said we will start construction in our first term.
"This decision on funding is the next step to making that happen. The inclusion of the bridge as a Fast-track project demonstrates the government’s commitment to getting this vital infrastructure built without unnecessary delays.
"This is about more than just building a bridge — it’s about securing Mid Canterbury’s future as a growing, thriving regional hub.
"I want to particularly acknowledge Mayor Neil Brown and the Ashburton District Council for their partnership with minister Simeon Brown in making this project a reality and while we are a while away from naming the new bridge, it will be hard to go past "Brown’s Bridge" as a starter for ten."
Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
— APL
