State Highway 1 reopens
State Highway 1 at Rangitata reopened last evening after being closed by flooding since Saturday. Speed limits apply in the area and there are warnings that the Rangitata River’s flood protection is in a fragile state.
A long-delayed project to double-lane the Upper Orari bridge should be an ‘‘urgent priority’’, Timaru District mayor Nigel Bowen said yesterday.
He made the call in the wake of traffic flow issues as flooding in the Rangitata River closed numerous road links.
The single lane bridge on State Highway 79, about six kilometres north of Geraldine, has been a source of concern over safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians for years.
Since Monday, traffic has been bumper-to-bumper on the bridge approaches as motorists rushed to cross the Rangitata River near Arundel with the State Highway 1 link remaining closed.
‘‘With the disruption of so many plans in the wake of the floods, the need for more ancillary routes has become a nobrainer,’’ Bowen said.
‘‘There’s an opportunity for us to push our cases to the transport minister and through our local MPs.’’
Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon agreed on the need to upgrade the bridge.
‘‘The recent flooding highlights the need to look at the roading infrastructure we have in Canterbury,’’ Falloon said.
‘‘We effectively have one and a half bridges to service the major economic transport corridor of the South Island.
In September, the Geraldine Community Board received a report which said, while the bridge had a strong cost-tobenefit analysis rating, there were many other priority State Highway bridge projects, and there was a limited funding allocation.
Bowen meanwhile praised the efforts of Timaru District Council staff, contractors and the district’s community in general during the flooding disaster.
‘‘It’s at times like this that we’re reminded of the strength and resilience of our community.
‘‘Our thoughts are with our rural community in particular at this difficult time.’’
Falloon also praised the work of the Civil Defence staff and contractors.
‘‘The council and Civil Defence have responded well in response to difficult circumstances.
‘‘Working under floodlights to have the alternative road open two days after the closure was an extraordinary achievement,’’ Falloon said.