A new name will be added to the history books when the Red Bridge in Luggate has its centennial tomorrow.
Edward Fletcher Roberts, a Dunedin consulting civil engineer, was employed by the Public Works Department to assist the Vincent County engineer J. S. Menzies with the design of the Red Bridge.
However, Mr Roberts' name was left off the plaque acknowledging the men who designed and built the steel truss bridge in 1915.
Red Bridge centennial co-ordinator Graham Taylor told the Otago Daily Times this week panels with information about Mr Roberts and his work had been made and would be on display at the Luggate Hotel from tomorrow.
The Luggate Community Association had originally planned to have a plaque honouring Mr Roberts' contribution ready to unveil during tomorrow's celebrations.
However, donations by members of the public totalling about $6000 meant the focus shifted to work on a new viewing platform on the northeastern side of the bridge, which had begun.
A memorial wall to commemorate the bridge and its designers would also be included.
Mr Roberts' great-nephew Nigel Harwood, who is also a civil engineer, said it was not uncommon 100 years ago for consulting engineers' names to be left off plaques.
This weekend that omission would be rectified.
''I'm pretty chuffed actually.
''He [Mr Roberts] has been mistreated by history in that the county engineer was named but he wasn't.
''It will be good to see that history is corrected.
Mr Roberts' mechanical mind could be seen in the design of the Red Bridge, Mr Harwood said.
''It's pretty neat.
''It's not as grand as the Eiffel Tower, but when you look from an engineering perspective you can see how it works.
''There is nothing superfluous about the design,'' he said.
Engineering had been a tradition in Mr Harwood's family dating back to his great-grandfather.
Mr Harwood's son was the most recent member of the family to join the industry.
The centennial celebration will include a re-enactment of the opening of the bridge, with speeches and a ribbon-cutting by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, Jackie Gurden, of Hawea, and Emily Schmidt, of Luggate.
People attending the event will also have the opportunity to join a procession of vintage vehicles across the bridge.
The centennial will be held at the northeastern side of the Red Bridge from 11am to 12.30pm tomorrow.
- Margot Taylor
