Opawa River Bridge
Opawa River Bridge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Opawa River Bridge in April 2021 | |
| Coordinates | 41°29′49″S 173°57′43″E / 41.497007°S 173.961961°E |
| Crosses | Opawa River |
| Locale | Blenheim, New Zealand |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1869 |
| Opened | 1917 |
| Designated | 28 June 1990 |
| Reference no. | 241 |
| Location | |
The Opawa River Bridge is a reinforced concrete bowstring truss bridge in Blenheim, New Zealand that crosses the Ōpaoa River. The bridge is classified as a "Category I" ("places of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value") historic place by the Heritage New Zealand, formerly known as New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[1] The bridge was first built in 1869 but collapsed in 1878. A new bridge was not completed until the end of 1917.[1]
Between 1917 and 2020, Grove Road (part of State Highway 1) used the Opawa River bridge. In January 2016, the Government approved the construction of a new bridge just upstream (west) of the existing bridge. The new bridge opened to traffic in July 2020, with the existing bridge remaining open for cyclists and pedestrians.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Opawa River Bridge". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ "Both lanes of new Blenheim bridge to open this week". Stuff. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.