NZTA says washed away Westland bridge will be rebuilt within 10 days

March 27, 2019

Wild weather has been battering the West Coast.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says a bridge which washed away over the Waiho River yesterday should be replaced within "the next week to ten days".

Very heavy rain in the region led the river, fed by the Franz Josef Glacier, to flood, which culminated in the Bailey bridge over it washing away.

Speaking this morning on TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, Westland Mayor Bruce Smith said he was optimistic the bridge could be replaced within two weeks.

Mayor Bruce Smith is optimistic the Waiho Bridge, that collapsed will be fixed soon.

"At the moment the people on the south side are commuting by helicopter," Mr Smith said.

His advice to residents in the areas affected is, "Check your neighbour, check your gear, make sure that you haven’t got a creek that’s burst overnight and then get on with it.

1 NEWS reporter Sam Clarke was at the scene at Franz Josef.

Of the heavy rain Mr Smith says: "The reality is this is not uncommon to be this size... ...Let’s get it tidied up and move on."

NZTA System Manager Pete Connors said in a statement today that the agency is aiming at replacing the bridge even more quickly.

"We are aiming to reconnect State Highway 6 across the Waiho within the next week to ten days," Mr Connors said.

Engineers are examining the site today as the river level drops.

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