More than 1500 people attended Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s soft opening of the new $25 million bridge on State Highway 8 yesterday lunchtime, enjoying a unique opportunity to walk the 195m roadway before it is opened to traffic.
Visitors from as far afield as Invercargill and Dunedin came to inspect the elegant curved structure crossing the Clutha River, alongside hundreds of South and Central Otago locals, many of whom reminisced fondly about the former 1887 bridge, now sitting in its replacement’s shadow.
Among them were Beaumont-born sisters Shirley Brown, 87, and Daphne Wright (85, nee Pearson), both now resident in Dunedin.
Mrs Brown stayed on in Beaumont as an adult for three decades, teaching at the local primary school.
She said even in those days, the old bridge, which has had permanent scaffolding in place since repairs in 2009, was in regular need of refurbishment.
"Unavoidably with a bridge, the school was one side and many of the pupils lived on the other.
"The deck was removed for repairs to take place on one occasion during the 1950s, but we still had to get the children to and from school. So the workmen placed some planks along the length, and we fed the children carefully across one by one. The only thing between us and the river below was a rope net, there for the workmen.
"OSH [WorkSafe] would have a fit nowadays!"
She said the new bridge was an "impressive" structure, and would make life easier for those using it.
The former bridge will remain in place for pedestrian and cycle use, linking into the Clutha Gold Rail Trail.
Michael Healy, who lives overlooking the new bridge with wife Margaret, said he had mixed feelings about its construction.
"We’re quite passionate about the old bridge, and we’re glad it’s being kept.
"The new bridge spoils the view of the old a bit, but it’s been a great time waster watching it being built from go to whoa, and will be an awful lot quieter than the old one," Mr Healy said.
"All you could hear on busy days were trucks slowing down and then the noisy rattling of the rivets and planks as they crossed over."
Yesterday’s ceremonies were got under way by Taieri MP Ingrid Leary and Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan.
Mr Cadogan said the new bridge would provide residents of Central Otago with a way to access more easily the "beautiful weather and economic powerhouse" of Clutha.
"Beyond us lies the barren wasteland of Central Otago, led by my brother [Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan]. His community can now escape."
A formal opening ceremony will take place this December, following completion of landscaping, road surfacing and cycleway conversion of the former bridge.
