$4.3m bridge to be built near Palmerston North

A new $4.3 million bridge is to be built in Kopane near Palmerston North to help protect the small town from future large floods.

Horizons Regional Council yesterday approved the construction of a new bridge to overcome a narrow point in the Oroua River prone to flooding.

Horizons group manager of operations Allan Cook said the new bridge will alleviate the pressure on the Kopane section of the river during floods.

"Until the constriction in the river is removed, the neighbouring community will continue to be at risk of floods. We considered a number of methods to overcome this constriction and have determined that the best way is to widen the river channel and build a new bridge, higher and longer than the existing."

The new bridge will allow for the passage of the river underneath it during a 100 year flood which has a one per cent chance of happening in any given year.

Stopbanks have also been raised and upgraded upstream and downstream of the bridge.

Higgins Contractors Ltd has been awarded the tender and Mr Cook expected the new bridge to be completed by April 2012.

- NZ Herald staff