March 27, 2026
The major restoration of Ashburton’s 109-year-old heritage-listed rail footbridge is one step closer.
Ashburton District Council has awarded the tender for work to local company Grant Hood Contracting.
The Railway Footbridge, with its bowstring truss, is the only remaining bridge in New Zealand of its type in its original location and used for the original purpose.
The refurbishment is estimated to cost around $880,000 and comes under the council’s existing budget for maintenance and renewal work on local bridges and structures, and is partly-subsidised by NZTA.
The project had a budget of $705,000 in the long-term plan, based off an old estimate.
Council’s roading manager Mark Chamberlain said the six-month refurbishment will start over the next couple of months, once they receive a permit from KiwiRail.
“KiwiRail does have to have people standing over when we are doing the work near the railway line on their land.”
Deputy Mayor Richard Wilson, who had previously referred to the bridge as a “weeping sore”, asked if it would be complete by Christmas and Chamberlain said “that’s the plan”.
Council’s infrastructure group manager Neil McCann said the refurbishment is no small job.
“First we’ll need to use a crane to remove the 25-metre central iron truss, which will be placed onto KiwiRail land to the south of the footbridge, to be repaired and repainted.
“Then the decking on the central truss and sections of the ramps will be removed so repairs can be made to the support piers, including the one that was damaged by a car last year.
“The previously identified decayed timbers will be replaced along with any others once the decking is removed. Ironwork will be cleaned, repaired, and repainted.”
McCann said the footbridge has been a council asset since the early 2000s and has served as a pedestrian connection between East and West Street for over a century.
The council adopted a Conservation Management Plan for the footbridge in 2023 and budgeted for the work in this three-year transport cycle, he said.
“The management plan has guided an appropriate refurbishment, and our contractor will use sustainable hardwood in accordance with the plan.
“It’s important the footbridge retains its heritage value, but it’s equally important the structure survives as it’s the only safe rail crossing between Havelock Street and Walnut Avenue.
“We know it is valued for its history, and it was one of the most photographed spots in a recent competition run by Heritage New Zealand.”
By Jonathan Leask
The major restoration of Ashburton’s 109-year-old heritage-listed rail footbridge is one step closer.
Ashburton District Council has awarded the tender for work to local company Grant Hood Contracting.
The Railway Footbridge, with its bowstring truss, is the only remaining bridge in New Zealand of its type in its original location and used for the original purpose.
The refurbishment is estimated to cost around $880,000 and comes under the council’s existing budget for maintenance and renewal work on local bridges and structures, and is partly-subsidised by NZTA.
The project had a budget of $705,000 in the long-term plan, based off an old estimate.
Council’s roading manager Mark Chamberlain said the six-month refurbishment will start over the next couple of months, once they receive a permit from KiwiRail.
“KiwiRail does have to have people standing over when we are doing the work near the railway line on their land.”
Deputy Mayor Richard Wilson, who had previously referred to the bridge as a “weeping sore”, asked if it would be complete by Christmas and Chamberlain said “that’s the plan”.
Council’s infrastructure group manager Neil McCann said the refurbishment is no small job.
“First we’ll need to use a crane to remove the 25-metre central iron truss, which will be placed onto KiwiRail land to the south of the footbridge, to be repaired and repainted.
“Then the decking on the central truss and sections of the ramps will be removed so repairs can be made to the support piers, including the one that was damaged by a car last year.
“The previously identified decayed timbers will be replaced along with any others once the decking is removed. Ironwork will be cleaned, repaired, and repainted.”
McCann said the footbridge has been a council asset since the early 2000s and has served as a pedestrian connection between East and West Street for over a century.
The council adopted a Conservation Management Plan for the footbridge in 2023 and budgeted for the work in this three-year transport cycle, he said.
“The management plan has guided an appropriate refurbishment, and our contractor will use sustainable hardwood in accordance with the plan.
“It’s important the footbridge retains its heritage value, but it’s equally important the structure survives as it’s the only safe rail crossing between Havelock Street and Walnut Avenue.
“We know it is valued for its history, and it was one of the most photographed spots in a recent competition run by Heritage New Zealand.”
By Jonathan Leask
