Access ramps for Cardrona River Bridge and new project funding

on 30 Jun 2021

Durk asks

This is a great initiative which we have supported.

Nice design and will make cycling access so much easier.

I was wondering why there is a need to remove the stairs. They could continue to be useful for walkers. They may also be costly to remove and funds could be better spent on the new build ?

Sure you did think of this but just curious.

Thanks for the great project

Upper Clutha Tracks Trust

Thanks for the question. This great design was donated to the Trust by the Department of Conservation as part of their support for the project. When we tendered the project we asked if it would be possible with the design to keep the stairs, and the consensus was that we couldn't.

As the tracks go both upstream and downstream on both sides of the river, we decided that the dual ramp option offered the best overall outcome.

When the work starts we will again assess whether it is possible or practical to keep them.

We hope to salvage the stairs if they cannot easily be retained, and will store them for use in a future project.