The next step is for the Environment Court to confirm the project. The outline plan of works also has to be submitted to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) with details of the final design.
The appeal had been into a project decision issued by the NZ Transport Agency in March. The two parties have now withdrawn their appeals though the issues raised will lead to some minor changes to the walking and cycling facilities on both the existing and new bridges.
There is an existing bridge/dam structure at the site. When this is no longer required for highway traffic, it is likely to remain available for pedestrians and cyclists. The Transport Agency is working closely with QLDC to seek a secure future for the structure.
If funding is approved, construction work on the new bridge may start some time after 2016 and is expected to take about two years.
The bridge will be designed using steel beams spanning between piers that are 45m apart, with a slimline superstructure that complements the form of the existing dam structure. Opting for a composite steel and concrete design means the bridge can be built quicker and is expected to cost around US$1.6 million less than using a concrete box bridge design, said the Transport Agency.
