A 78-year-old bridge on Morgans Road, Lower Wairau, has reached the end of its life for carrying vehicles.

The narrow 18m long timber #2 bridge, which crosses Roses Overflow, will shortly be closed to traffic and modified into a walk/cycle footbridge. There is already an alternative route via Jones Road for the 10 residential properties and the rowing club in the area. Council, via Marlborough Roads, is in contact with those directly affected.

Marlborough Roads System Manager Wayne Oldfield said the bridge, built just after the Second World War, had been structurally assessed late last year and a full closure of the aging structure to vehicles was required.

“Over the past 20 years the bridge has had incremental weight restrictions put in place and the width reduced to now limit vehicles to 2.2m wide and a maximum 8 tonne in weight so heavy traffic is already using alternative routes,” he said.

“However, the structure has deteriorated further, and the bridge now needs to be closed to vehicles as soon as possible for public safety.”

As there is an alternative route nearby, the case for a replacement bridge does not meet NZ Transport Agency funding thresholds and therefore would need to be entirely ratepayer-funded, Mr Oldfield said.

The current estimate for a “like for like” bridge replacement would be more than $800,000.

“Morgans Road carries around 60 vehicles per day so it is not high use route.

“People can travel down Jones Road nearby to get to the Blenheim Rowing Club. It adds a little bit on to the journey, but this is a viable, convenient alternative,” he said.

The route is popular for cyclists and walkers, both locals and visitors, so Marlborough Roads will alter the existing bridge to make it safe for this use for $20,000.

Marlborough Roads will also work with Council to look at more weather resilient access for the properties in the area as both Morgans Road and Jones Road have been impassable during recent major weather events, Mr Oldfield said.

Work will begin on modifying the old bridge from March 16 and it will reopen to walkers and cyclists by the end of March.

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