Sixty-five year-old Tod Bridge was badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 and closed due to it being partially destroyed. It is one of three remaining cyclone-damaged bridges in our district.

While we qualify for NZTA-Waka kotahi funding for all of the options available to us, we won't apply for funding until we know which option we're pursuing. So, faced with a decision about the future of the bridge, we would like the community's views before we progress.

A quick note about funding

We rely heavily on New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to co-fund transport repairs caused by weather events, so it is crucial that we align with NZTA's funding requirements and processes, which include assessing the cost benefit analysis of potential work options.

When NZTA agrees to co-fund, they fund 89% of the cost, leaving Council to cover the 11% balance through rate-based funding. See the FAQs for more information on how NZTA funding works.

We have looked into what we can do and worked out what we can't. Now we need to know what you think the best option is and why. What are the important considerations for the community that need to be taken into account when deciding which option to go with? See the comment section in the right hand column.

Here are the choices we have:

We could decide to build a new bridge. This would mean demolishing the old bridge and replacing it with a whole new bridge and re-opening the road.

What would that cost?

The high-level estimate for replacing the bridge is $4.5 million. This qualifies for an NZTA funding application, which would make the ratepayer contribution (based on the estimate) $495,000.

If this is the preferred option, Council will need to seek approval for the funding from NZTA.

Pros:

• The road can re-open
• The bridge would be modern, fit-for-purpose with good resilience and minimal ongoing maintenance
• Traffic would have a shorter route (especially beach traffic)
• Local businesses would benefit from summer-traffic
• Qualifies for significant NZTA funding, although this still needs approval

Cons:

• We would be using some of the annual roading budget funded by tax-payers
• Traffic levels on Tod Road would resume to pre-cyclone levels
• The most expensive 'upfront' option

We could decide to not replace the bridge, demolish it and close the road. This means Tod Road would become a dead-end road from both sides, terminating where the bridge used to be. The alternative route adds a further 3.7km to the distance people must travel.

What would that cost?

The cost of closing the road includes a couple of things:

1. The damaged bridge would need to be demolished.
2. Council would work with NZTA to understand if there was support to seal Evan Road to provide a safer route for ongoing higher traffic. This is estimated at $800,000. Subject to approval, NZTA would likely fund 89%, with $80,000 being rates funded.

If this is the preferred option, Council will need to seek approval for the funding from NZTA.

Pros:

• Less traffic on dead-end portions of Tod Road may be beneficial for residents
• Sealing Evan Road would make it safer road for the heavier traffic volumes
• It is the cheapest option
• Qualifies for NZTA funding, although this still needs approval

Cons:

• Traffic would have to go further
• The intersection at the end of Evan Road may need to be reviewed re safety to cope better with heavier traffic
• Local businesses could miss out on summer-traffic
• Visitors would have to travel further to get to the beach
• We would be using some of the annual rates-funded roading budget (but less than the other options)

We could repair the bridge and re-open the road.

What would that cost?

The estimate for repairing the bridge is $2 million. This qualifies for an application for NZTA funding. If approved, this would make the ratepayer contribution (based on the estimate) $220,000.

The damaged bridge would be repaired. However, the ongoing maintenance costs would be higher than with a new bridge and there would be strengthening costs in the future.

Pros:

• The road can re-open
• Traffic would have a shorter route
• Local businesses would benefit from summer-traffic
• Qualifies for significant NZTA funding, although this still needs approval

Cons:

• We would be using some of the annual rates-funded roading budget
• Ongoing maintenance costs, which would be rates-funded, including strengthening work (yet to be estimated)
• Not the cheapest option
• Traffic levels on Tod Road would resume to pre-cyclone levels