Freight trains will again cross Ashburton's Rangitata rail bridge, thanks to temporary repairs

The bridge has been closed for two weeks after one of the bridge's 34 piers was washed away during a flood, causing it to sag.

Mayor Neil Brown says Kiwirail has worked hard to get it up and running, using a 250-tonne crane.

He says it's still a short term fix, and a full repair will take around 3 months.