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​Little Valley Road Bridge Rehabilitation

Little Valley Road will be closed to motor vehicles from Thursday, 19 February 2026 for bridge repairs. This is a long-term closure.

Motor vehicles:

  • Detour via: Tarbert St (SH85) > Walton St / Rivers St > Graveyard Gully Rd.
  • This route is suitable for Class 1 heavy vehicles.
  • Resident access will be maintained for all affected properties.

Pedestrians and cyclists:

  • Pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained.
  • This includes the Otago Central Rail Trail, and access under the bridge via the river path.

At 120 years old, the Little Valley Road bridge still managed to provide some surprises during the refurbishment project.

When crews from Breen Construction began removing the old timber beams and transoms earlier this year, they uncovered something unexpected: corrosion in isolated areas of the steelwork. It's the kind of issue that can only be identified once the work is underway, and it meant treating the affected steel before the rest of the refurbishment could progress.

Roading Manager, Paul Fleet says the team is pleased to have worked through the challenge.

"Treating the steel did cause a slight delay, but by addressing it now, we're ensuring the long-term safety and durability of the bridge for many more years," he says.

The good news is that those repairs are now complete. Crews are well underway placing the new timber, and the bridge is taking on its familiar shape once more.

The bridge has been closed to all motor vehicles since 19 February, with a Bailey bridge over the Manuherekia River at Linger and Die Reserve providing an alternative crossing for vehicles including heavy trucks.

The current programme will see an estimated re-opening of the Little Valley Bridge to full traffic loadings at the end of July with the removal of the temporary Bailey bridge scheduled in August. Exact opening dates will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

The temporary Bailey Bridge at Linger and Die Reserve in Alexandra will open to the public at 3.00pm on Thursday, 18 December 2025.

The Bailey bridge provides a critical temporary crossing between Rivers Street and Graveyard Gully Road over the Manuherekia River. It will enable heavy vehicles, including Class 1 heavy vehicles, to cross the river while the Little Valley Road bridge is refurbished. This is particularly important as the Little Valley Road bridge is currently subject to weight restrictions and will close during construction.

Pictured: the Bailey bridge viewed from the Linger and Die Reserve end.

Change to construction timeframe

There has been a change to the construction timeframe for the Little Valley Road bridge refurbishment. Our contractor is currently experiencing delays in the supply of hardwood timber due to geo-political issues affecting the global supply chain.

As a result, construction is now expected to commence in early March 2026, with completion still targeted for mid-2026. The contractor is working to optimise the construction programme where possible.

Until construction begins, the Little Valley Road bridge will remain open for suitable heavy vehicles, light vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Construction of the temporary Bailey bridge is now in its final stages and remains on track to open prior to the Christmas break. Once operational, the bridge will allow heavy and general traffic to safely cross the Manuherekia River while the Little Valley Road bridge refurbishment is carried out.

When the Bailey bridge opens, vehicles will detour via State Highway 85 (Tarbert Street), Walton Street, Rivers Street, and Graveyard Gully Road to reconnect with Little Valley Road.

Ahead of the Little Valley Road bridge closure in late January, Breen Construction will also install a temporary, engineer-certified cycling and pedestrian accessway on the existing bridge. This will allow continued pedestrian and cycle access during construction and will be monitored and maintained for the duration of the project. The Otago Central Rail Trail will remain unaffected, with safe crossings available via the temporary accessway and the Shaky Bridge footbridge downstream.

Parking Changes

To ensure the safe movement of large vehicles at the State Highway 85 intersection, some on-street parking on Walton Street has been temporarily removed. These spaces will be fully reinstated once the project is complete. (See the map below)

To offset this change, new formal car parks have been created on Rivers Street, opposite the Linger and Die Reserve to maximise available parking

Central Otago District Council apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the community for its patience while this important work progresses.

Read more HERE

Understanding the map:

  • Yellow No Parking lines will be painted as shown on the map.
  • We will remove the white lines from the existing car parks marked in red.
  • The four car parks marked in green will remain.

Ground works are well and truly underway to establish the temporary Bailey bridge between Graveyard Gully Road and the Rivers Street Park (Linger and Die Reserve) in Alexandra

The temporary crossing over the Manuherekia River will be in place while refurbishment is carried out on the Little Valley Road bridge.

Read more HERE

The Little Valley Road bridge upgrade project will begin in October 2025 starting with the installation of a Bailey bridge to provide a temporary crossing over the Manuherekia River at Alexandra.

The temporary Bailey bridge will be built between Graveyard Gully Road and Rivers Street Park, also known as Linger and Die Park, in Alexandra.

CODC will build the Bailey bridge during October - December. This project will provide a detour route while ensuring the bridge remains a safe and reliable link for residents, farmers, businesses, emergency services, and visitors, including Otago Central Rail Trail users.

The map below shows the three bridges - the Bailey bridge, the existing Shaky Bridge footbridge and the Little Valley Road bridge.

  • Temporary Bailey bridge

The Little Valley Road bridge will be closed to regular traffic from January until the refurbishment is completed in June 2026, after which the Bailey bridge will be removed and the site reinstated. All light vehicles, and heavy vehicles including truck and trailer units up to Class 1 weight restriction, along with cyclists, will be able to use the single lane Bailey bridge.

The Class 1 rating covers most trucks, trailers, stock trucks, and buses. The bridge will also accommodate larger non-heavy vehicles such as campervans, motorhomes, and large vans; an improvement on the current bridge’s load limits.

  • Shaky Bridge

The nearby historic Shaky Bridge footbridge will be available for pedestrians as usual.

  • Little Valley Road bridge

The Little Valley Road bridge upgrade has been advertised through public tender, which will be awarded in October.

The work will include renewing key timber components of the bridge, which is the only permanent vehicle crossing over the Manuherekia River, and a critical link for multiple users.

The Rail Trail entry will remain open on Little Valley Road and the trail user carpark on the corner of Tucker Hill Road will also be accessible during the bridge closure.

Drop-in sessions for affected residents, landowners and the public will be held during September. These will be advertised in media and on our online platforms.

Quick Facts

Why this project is important

  • Little Valley Road bridge is a vital link for residents, farmers, businesses, emergency services, and visitors.
  • The bridge requires rehabilitation to extend its life, improve safety, and support modern heavy vehicle loads.
  • By acting now, CODC avoids sudden closures or costly emergency repairs, while keeping the bridge safe and reliable for the long term.

What’s happening

  • October to December 2025 – Temporary Bailey bridge installed to ensure traffic flow.
  • January to July 2026 – Closure and rehabilitation of Little Valley Road bridge.
  • Post-July 2026 – Bailey bridge removed, site reinstated, landscaping and signage completed.

What to expect

  • Little Valley Road bridge is closed to regular traffic during work.
  • Cyclists and pedestrians diverted via Shaky Bridge.
  • Note: Cyclists may use the Bailey bridge, but no pedestrian access permitted.
  • The Bailey bridge will be rated for Class 1 heavy vehicles (trucks, trailers, buses, stock trucks) and larger non-heavy vehicles (campervans, motorhomes, large vans).
  • Increased vehicle activity in the area during construction.
  • Some parking will be temporarily removed at the intersection of Walton and Thompson streets to enable safe and efficient heavy vehicle turning.
  • Residents along Walton Street and within the Lookout Estate may experience increased traffic volumes and vehicle noise during construction.

How you’ll be kept informed

  • Letter drops and door knocks for affected residents and landowners.
  • Signage on site with detour maps and safety information.
  • CODC website and social media updates (monthly and at milestones) with progress and FAQs.
  • Feedback can be shared via the CODC roading email address, Council front desk, or directly with the project team.

Contacts

  • For general updates email: roading@codc.govt.nz or phone: (03) 440 0056
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