More than 400 people walk across the second and last of the two bridges across the Waitaki River after its official opening on Saturday afternoon.
The marquees.
The new bridges across the Waitaki River replace two 133-year-old single-lane bridges.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, NZTA Southern regional director Jim Harland and Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley cut the ribbon.
The official party.
Oamaru police Sergeant Blair Wilkinson (left) and Kurow police Constable Craig Bennett were among the 400-strong crowd.
"Kurow natives'' (from left) Dorothy Russell, Heather Nehoff and Nancy Hay were aboard the 1953 V8 open fire engine for Saturday's event.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher addresses the 400-strong crowd.
In a repeat of the opening of the State Hwy 1 bridge at Glenavy in 1953, the North Otago and Waimate pipe bands join forces in Saturday's event.
Blessing of the new bridge by local Iwi.
Mary Currie and John Currie, of Kurow, and Bill Currie and Laura Currie, of Alexandra, reunite for the opening of the second bridge.
Waimate pipe band piper Russell Powell, marched across the new bridge, having done the same at the opening on the Glenavy Bridge in 1953.
A 400-strong crowd gathered at the opening of the second bridge linking Kurow and Hakataramea on Saturday.
