Third bridge part of planning

Waipa Mayor Jim Mylchreest said there was no resistance on behalf of the council to a third bridge.

He rebutted criticism that leaving it out of the 10-year plan meant council lacked vision.

The third bridge was not part of the plan because the Beca report indicated a bridge would not be needed for 20 years.

However, there was a budget in the 10-year plan to investigative work on a third bridge, Mylchreest said.

‘‘It’s simple - the figures do not stack up for the expenditure right now for a bridge, but a third bridge has been factored into the 30-year plan.

‘‘Now that is not going to please those who want a new bridge tomorrow.

‘‘We are talking about an 11 per cent [rates] increase across the district. When you compare five to 10 minutes in your car, versus 30 years of debt, it’s not logical,’’ Mylchreest said.

He said Waipa simply could not afford to pay for a new bridge without New Zealand Transport Agency funding.

‘‘You only have to watch the news on TV to see where NZTA’s priorities are.’’

The Beca report showed the Shakespeare Street Bridge was under utilised.

‘‘Given that, plus low levels of congestion, a third bridge would not qualify for a NZTA subsidy,’’ Mylchreest said.

The council was looking for the best options for a new bridge, which included land for access.

The Beca report recommended some alternatives to keep traffic moving in Cambridge.

One was to trial a tidal, oneway road system of traffic across the Victoria Street Bridge.

This would see peak-time traffic over the bridge move one way heading into the town centre in the morning, and reverse the direction to Lemington at night.

Council road corridor manager Bryan Hudson said it was impractical.

‘‘It’s innovative but problematic.

‘‘Even if we were to trial it, the cost associated with chang- ing a constrained environment would be unrealistic.’’

The council had asked Beca to look into the resilience of the Victoria Street Bridge.

‘‘We need to ensure the bridge can continue to function over the years,’’ Hudson said.

‘‘It’s an old historic but functional bridge and as such council’s constrained as to what it can and cannot do to it in the future.’’

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Waipa District Council has asked for a report on the resilience of the Victoria Street Bridge, as pressure mounts to build a third town bridge.