NZTA funding decision on Whanganui’s Wakefield St bridge replacement due in April

The bridge was built in 1954 using second-hand timber. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

A Government funding decision on replacing the Wakefield St Bridge is due next month, Whanganui’s MP says.

The bridge, in the suburb of Whanganui East, has been closed to vehicles since January 2025, with a replacement budgeted at about $2.5 million.

If NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) agrees to co-fund, it will cover 62% of the cost.

MP Carl Bates said he became aware of the project in the middle of last year and had written to NZTA several times about funding.

“I got clarity last week that a decision would come out by early April,” he said.

Last month, Whanganui District Council roading manager Mark Allingham said the council had submitted a point-of-entry business case and a present-value end-of-life evaluation to NZTA and, while it was not guaranteed, the agency could reallocate funding towards the project.

If that does not happen, the council will have to wait until NZTA’s 2027-2030 National Land Transport Plan, announced on August 31 next year.

Bates said NZTA’s decision next month would be on whether to fund the project through reallocation.

“Obviously, I can’t say exactly when it will be built. [The council] would have to work through that but it would mean the funding is there to do it.

“The decision is yet to be made but we’re doing our best to advocate for the constituents of Whanganui East to make sure this important transport link gets supported by NZTA.”

Council civil engineer Thorbjoerg Saevarsdottir told elected members last month the bridge would be prefabricated and the project could get underway quickly.

Construction would take months, not years, she said.

The existing bridge was built in 1954 using second-hand timber.

The council’s funding share for the project has already been budgeted in its 2025-26 annual plan.

Whanganui East resident and replacement advocate Dale Whitaker said she had her “fingers crossed” for an April decision.

Last year, Whitaker started a petition urging immediate action on the replacement and presented it to the council on September 16, with nearly 1000 signatures.

“A lot of people are pessimistic out there but, hopefully, with the council and NZTA we will get our bridge.”

She said she wanted to cut the ribbon on the new bridge.

“I’m a committee member of the [Whanganui] Vintage Car Club and our members will be lined up ready to go over it.

“I’ll try and talk the [Whanganui East] Club into having a party down there as well.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.