Bertrand Road suspension bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bertrand Road suspension bridge |
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| Coordinates | 39°02′50″S 174°15′18″E / 39.0473°S 174.2550°E |
| Carries | One lane of Bertrand road 4 tonne limit |
| Crosses | Waitara River |
| Locale | Taranaki, New Zealand |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension Bridge |
| Longest span | 61 metres (200 ft) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1927 |
The Bertrand Road suspension bridge is a historic bridge in New Zealand. It crosses the Waitara River in north Taranaki. The bridge connects the areas of Huirangi, near Lepperton, and Tikorangi. It was first built in 1897 and then rebuilt in 1927.
Building the First Bridge
The idea for the bridge came from Levi Sarten. He was a councillor in Waitara. Crossing the river to Tikorangi was very difficult and dangerous. The roads in the area were also not very good.
So, a bridge was needed to make travel easier and safer. The first Bertrand Road bridge was built across the river in 1897. It was 210 feet long and 9 feet wide. The cost to build this first bridge was £695.
Damage and Rebuilding
In the 1920s, the bridge was damaged by big floods. Because of the damage, the bridge had to be taken apart. Parts of the old bridge, like wood and steel, were used again. They helped build a new crossing.
The second bridge opened in 1927. It used a changed version of the first design. This new design made the bridge stronger. It also helped it stand up better against strong winds.
Closure and Reopening
Over many years, the bridge started to get old. To make it last longer, rules were put in place. These rules limited the height and weight of vehicles that could cross.
Eventually, the bridge was declared unsafe for cars. It was closed to all vehicles in 1985. This meant drivers had to take a long 16-kilometre detour. However, people could still walk or use the bridge for fun. Many tries to reopen the bridge for cars did not work. In 2004, the bridge was completely closed to everyone.
A special group called a trust was formed. Their goal was to reopen the bridge. They started a community fundraising plan. One part of this plan was called "buy a plank." If you donated money, your name would be carved onto a plank on the bridge.
More money came from the TSB Community Trust. The New Zealand Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee also helped. They raised $630,000 in total. The trust used as much of the old bridge design as possible. The bridge was finally reopened to all traffic in June 2006. Today, the bridge has a main span of 61 metres. It also has a maximum weight limit of 4 tonnes for vehicles.
