City Councillors have approved a preferred option for the siting of the second city bridge across the Manawatu River.

The preferred bridge location is situated between the end of Riverside Drive and Staces Road.

The option was presented to last Wednesday’s full Council meeting which unanimously approved the option in principle and has released the preference for public consultation.

The Council’s consultant, OPUS, explains that, until such time as the route of the rural ring road is finalised and built, the bridge will be linked to Napier Road along Te Matai Road and Riverside Drive and to Aokautere Drive following the general alignment of Staces Road.

Investigation of an upstream crossing of the Manawatu River is reaching an important milestone which should see confirmation of a preferred site by September 2007.

Opus International Consultants were engaged by Council in 2006 to complete the investigation of a suitable site for a second bridge. The study includes consideration of the economic, social and environmental effects and benefits of a bridge.

The bridge site forms part of Council’s Eastern Growth Corridor, which it adopted in 2003 and now forms part of its 10 Year Plan.