Edgecumbe Bridge to get a facelift after year of pleading

Rangitaiki Community Board Chairperson Charelle Stevenson says going over the bridge is depressing. Photo/Katee Shanks

Not even a month ago the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said funding was not available to paint the Edgecumbe Bridge.

But a way has been found.

In the build-up to the one-year anniversary of the April 6 flood that swept through Edgecumbe, Rangitaiki Community Board chairwoman Charelle Stevenson continued in her quest to have the "eyesore of a bridge" addressed by NZTA.

Last month Stevenson told the Rotorua Daily Post it was depressing for the people of Edgecumbe to have to traverse the bridge every day. She had also approached Labour MP Kiri Allan for help.

"Not to take anything away from all of the good happening in the town, you can't get away from that bridge. With all that has gone on in Edgecumbe, the bridge almost rubbed in the despair and the distress people had been feeling for 12 months."

Edgecumbe bridge is in need of a facelift. Photo/Katee Shanks

An appeal to NZTA was made by Whakatane District Council on behalf of the community board and in spite of "significant amounts of work being done by council staff", NZTA maintained "the current system would not allow painting of the bridge as it did not fit under State Highway maintenance and renewal and no funds were available".

But last Thursday, the day before the one-year anniversary, NZTA announced the upgrade would go ahead.

Bay of Plenty system manager Rob Campbell said there had been a recent focus on finding a way forward for the painting and tidying of the bridge.

"The work involves erecting major scaffolding and we expect it to take around four months, weather permitting," Campbell said.

The expected cost is around $260,000.

"We expect contractors to be on site within the month. There may be some impact on people who use the bridge so please drive carefully through the area while we undertake this work.

"We'd like to thank the Edgecumbe community for their patience during and after the major flooding event. We have worked closely with the council and the community board throughout this process and we will continue that close relationship."

Stevenson said she was absolutely ecstatic that NZTA had found a way forward.

"They've been in touch and said they'll keep us updated, it's very exciting and I can't wait to see the completed project."