Council staff have recommended the bridge be demolished and replaced by a large pedestrian crossing. Photo: Paul McCredie
A Wellington city councillor wants a decision on the future of the city to sea bridge shifted to next year, in hopes of saving it.
The central city bridge provides a throughfare between the capital's waterfront and the civic square.
It is facing demolition after a seismic assessment labelled it an earthquake risk, and council staff deemed the $85 million price tag for strengthening it too high.
Council staff have instead recommended the bridge be demolished and replaced by a large pedestrian crossing - with the option of building a new bridge in a future long term plan.
They would aim to start demolition work in January next year with the aim for it to be done in time for the opening of the town hall, which is being earthquake strengthened at a cost of $330 million.
But city councillor Iona Pannett wants to stop those plans in their tracks with an amendment at today's environment and infrastructure committee meeting.
The amendment would see the decision moved to May next year, with the aim to keep the bridge.
Pannett said between now and then the council would work with architects and engineers to find cost efficient ways to manage its earthquake issues.
"It is a bridge loved by many people, it is a critical connection between the centre of our city and our beloved waterfront and an at grade crossing just cannot perform the same function."
She said the debate on the issue will be passionate particularly around earthquake risk.
"Very fortunately our country's history shows very few people are killed by earthquakes, we really need to take a rational approach to earthquake risks."
Pannett told RNZ if the amendment did not go through she believed there would be a large campaign to keep the bridge.
She said there were councillors sympathetic to her position and was hopeful she could get the 10 votes needed for the amendment to go ahead.
The committee meeting starts today at 9:30am.
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