Nelson City Council has awarded a $43 million contract to Isaac Construction to deliver the Bridge to Better project, marking the transition from planning to delivery of one of the city’s largest ever infrastructure and urban design projects.

The $78 million Bridge to Better project, which includes the upgrade of the Paru Paru wastewater pump station (tender still to be awarded), will support investment and new housing opportunities in Nelson’s city centre by upgrading ageing underground infrastructure and transforming Bridge Street into a vibrant, people-friendly space. It is jointly funded through $36.3 million from the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund and $42.4 million, which has been allocated in Council’s Long Term Plan.

Isaac Construction has already been part of the project team through the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process. The contract to deliver the project was signed on Bridge Street on Friday, 5 September.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says the $43 million contract highlights the once-in-a-generation scale of investment now underway in Nelson’s city centre, and reflects the commitment Council and Government are making to secure the city’s infrastructure for the future.

“This is the biggest Council capital project ever in our city centre. The $43 million contract with Isaac Construction is about getting the basics right; fixing the pipes and building the infrastructure we need for Nelson to grow and thrive.

“We have deliberately selected an experienced partner in this sort of urban redevelopment project to help us work with affected businesses on managing the inevitable disruption from replacing the infrastructure and rebuilding the streetscape. This urban renewal project is vital to our aspirations to attract more investment and people into the heart of our city.”

Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis says the tender submitted by Isaac Construction reflected a comprehensive assessment of build methodology and sequencing, risk management, stakeholder feedback, heritage requirements, utility coordination, and contamination management.

“Having Isaac Construction involved from the outset through the ECI process meant we could test technical aspects, constructability, methodology, staging, refine sequencing, and put disruption planning at the centre of our work - experience they can now bring into delivering the project. This partnership approach means we can mitigate disruption to try and keep access open for businesses and the community as best we can, as we deliver upgraded infrastructure that will serve Nelson well into the future.”

Isaac Construction’s Chief Operating Officer, Scott Ford, says, “We're proud to be partnering with Nelson City Council on the Bridge to Better project. From the outset, we've been helping shape the strategy to make a meaningful impact and bringing forward the expertise and experience from our similar completed projects across the South Island. As we now move into delivery, the focus is on creating enduring value for the community — upgrading critical infrastructure and transforming Bridge Street into a vibrant, people-first space that reflects Whakatū Nelson’s unique character.”

Mayor Nick Smith and Isaac Construction’s Chief Operating Officer, Scott Ford, signed the contract to deliver the Bridge to Better project on Bridge Street on Friday. Nelson City Council Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis looks on.

Key features of the Bridge to Better project include:

• Upgraded water, wastewater and stormwater networks to support city growth.

• New rain gardens and native planting to improve water quality before it reaches rivers and Tasman Bay.

• Safer and more accessible transport connections, including cycle lanes, improved crossings, traffic calming measures and reconfigured parking.

• Cultural design elements shaped through a co-design process with iwi that reflect Te Tauihu narratives and Whakatū Nelson’s unique identity.

• New spaces for outdoor dining, events and socialising, making Bridge Street a destination as well as a thoroughfare.

In addition to its size, the project stands out for its co-design process with iwi, which has woven cultural narratives into the streetscape.

Bridge to Better preparatory works begin this month, starting with changes to the Montgomery Square laneway and the Alma Street–Buxton Square connection to Bridge Street to make them one-way. At the same time, crews will begin upgrading the sewer along Rutherford Street, laying high-voltage cabling along Bridge Street and Haven Road, and adding additional manholes to better access the heritage brick-lined sewer under Bridge Street between Trafalgar and Collingwood Streets.

This phase of works will prepare the street for the main construction, which is scheduled to start in February 2026 and run through to July 2027.