Lovatt said “road-bridging options” had been provided to freight customers while the bridge was out of action, but the line being reopened meant there would be less heavy trucks moving between Timaru, Ashburton and Christchurch.
Initial work on the permanent repairs were expected to begin next week, and to take between 10 and 12 weeks.
They include driving new casings surrounding the bridge’s support columns deeper into the river bed, and building a new steel and concrete pier.
Meanwhile, Lovatt said a search was on for the missing concrete pier, which could be buried in the river bed.
RNZ