Alexandra’s historic Little Valley Bridge set to reopen this month

Normal traffic routes will soon return to Alexandra as Central Otago District Council finishes final repairs on the Little Valley Road bridge. The bridge – an essential 120-year-old connection for residents, farmers, and emergency services – is set to reopen on 31 July 2026, following an extensive refurbishment.

The major rehabilitation project by Breen Construction has been in progress for 8 months and will ensure a safer, more resilient link across the Manuherekia River for decades to come. While the temporary Bailey bridge at the Linger and Die Reserve has proved an effective detour throughout the works, the reopening will reinstate direct access and remove weight restrictions, opening the vital artery once again for primary industry transport.

"We're really pleased to be in the final stretch of this project," says Roading Manager Paul Fleet.

"While dealing with the bridge's unexpected surprises took extra time, the result is a restored structure that's built to last. We want to thank everyone in Alexandra for their patience while we got this important work done."

• Crews are wrapping up final inspections and safety checks ahead of the official 31 July reopening.
• Normal traffic routes will resume on 31 July, with motorists no longer needing to divert via Tarbert, Walton, or Rivers streets once the bridge opens.
• Decommissioning and removal of the temporary Bailey bridge at the Linger and Die Reserve will commence on 3 August 2026, followed by complete site reinstatement.
• Temporary parking restrictions on Walton Street will be lifted once normal traffic resumes, and full on-street parking will be reinstated.

For more information, visit the Council website or contact the CODC Roading Team at roading@codc.govt.nz or (03) 440 0056.

We'd like to thank the Alexandra community, local landowners, and drivers for their patience throughout the work.