Wellington's City to Sea Bridge. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Wellington's mayor says no contracts have been signed for the controversial demolition of the City to Sea Bridge.
Councillors voted to demolish the bridge late last year, but were not able to proceed until a court case brought against them to save the bridge failed last week.
Wellington City Council wants to demolish the bridge due to seismic concerns, but advocates for saving the bridge have argued it could be restrengthened for significantly less than the council claims.
Now imminent recommendations from the government's earthquake-prone building and seismic risk management review could add further fuel to the debate.
On Thursday, Tory Whanau told councillors work on the City to Sea Bridge and the nearby Capital E would be paused while they awaited the recommendations from the review.
Tory Whanau. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"Given the government announcement is now imminent it is sensible that we see what recommendations are before proceeding with any further action on Capital E and the City to Sea Bridge. That way, if any new options emerge as a result of the review recommendations, we can reassess our plans for the bridge."
Asked by RNZ why the review was only factoring into their decision now, Whanau said: "When we made the initial decision last year, this review was only just starting. In conversation with the minister and his office, we have established that a decision around the review is now imminent. As such, it is sensible to wait for the outcome of that."
The mayor also confirmed that while the work was paused until the end of September, fences closing the bridge off would remain in place.
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