Feedback wanted on new riverside landing and bridges

Three foot/cycle bridges and a riverside landing at Dallington will be the Christchurch City Council’s first projects to get under way in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.

Residents are being asked to provide their feedback on the proposed plans for the bridges and the landing, which are being funded by a $13,765,500 grant the Council received from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust to kick-start work within the Regeneration Area.

Christchurch City Council Strategy and Transformation General Manager Brendan Anstiss says the trust funding has been vital in allowing the Council to begin the first steps in developing the river corridor.

“With the financial support of the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust, it’s exciting that we’re starting the conversation about the first Council-developed river landing, and three foot and cycle bridges across the Ōtākaro Avon River. We look forward to everyone’s ideas and involvement.”

The Dallington Landing is the first of the landings that will be developed along the Green Spine of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.

It’s intended that this area of the Green Spine will be returned to native forest and wetlands. With this in mind, the design theme of the Landing is a ‘picnic in a forest. .

The plan is just a concept that shows elements that could be included, and the Council will use the public’s feedback to refine the proposal and details.

The Council is also asking for feedback on three pedestrian/cycle bridges within the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor –two replacement bridges and one in a new location.

The Avondale Bridge is a new bridge that will connect the Avondale and Aranui communities with the Donnell Sports Park and the future Eastern Reach wetland restoration area.

The Medway Street Bridge reinstates a pedestrian connection that has been missing since the previous bridge was famously buckled in the September 2010 earthquake.

The Snell Place Bridge follows the same alignment as the old pedestrian bridge that was damaged in the earthquakes. It reconnects Dallington and Avondale, and provides an important connection to and from Avon Park.

While all the bridges have slightly different designs, the geological constraints of the land next to the river means that the focus is on building structures that can withstand future earthquakes. They are all made from steel truss, with 3 metre wide concrete decks that minimise vibration. They also have sliding and jackable abutments to mitigate lateral spread.

Construction of the bridges is expected to begin in early 2021.