7 September 2021
Vital community connections in the Mataura Valley, near Gore, were restored in June 2020 after flooding two years earlier had destroyed the 85-year-old Pyramid Bridge and severed links.
The new concrete bridge over the Mataura River shaves many kilometres off journey times and supports improved safety.
Photo courtesy of Gore District Council.
After the old bridge was lost, it took the local fire brigade up to 14 minutes longer to get to emergencies across the river. With the new bridge complete, first responders can get to emergencies sooner and safely.
The new Pyramid Bridge was built with the community’s needs in mind. For example, the lanes are slightly wider to provide easier access and greater safety for large farm machinery.
Thanks largely to the contractor’s smart design, the project came in around $3 million under budget and opened several months ahead of schedule. It’s also proven to be resilient, having stood up well to floods in early 2020 while still under construction.
Waka Kotahi’s emergency works fund contributed three quarters of the $4.3 million cost of the new bridge. Gore District and Southland District councils funded the balance.
An additional $1.1 billion will fund transport projects across the Ōtākou/Murihiku | Otago/Southland region as part of the 2021–24 National Land Development Programme.
2021–24 NLTP Ōtākou/Murihiku | Otago/Southland regional summary
