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Opawa River Bridge

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Opawa River Bridge
Opawa River Bridge in April 2021
Coordinates41°29′49″S 173°57′43″E / 41.497007°S 173.961961°E / -41.497007; 173.961961
CrossesOpawa River
LocaleBlenheim, New Zealand
History
Construction start1869
Opened1917
Designated28 June 1990
Reference no.241
Location
Map

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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Opawa River Bridge". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Both lanes of new Blenheim bridge to open this week". Stuff. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.