Bridges in New Zealand facts for kids
New Zealand has many different kinds of bridges. These bridges help people and vehicles cross rivers, valleys, and other obstacles. Most of New Zealand's bridges were built after European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s. They are important for connecting towns and cities across the country.
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Road Bridges: Connecting Places
Road bridges are super important for cars, trucks, and buses to travel across New Zealand. Some of the longest road bridges on the main highway network include:
- Rakaia River bridge - This bridge is 1,757 metres long, making it one of the longest.
- Auckland Harbour Bridge - It stretches 1,020 metres across the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland.
- Thorndon Overbridges - These bridges are 1,335 metres long.
- Whirokino Trestle Bridge - This one is 1,098 metres long.
- Waitaki River Bridge - It measures 906 metres.
- Hokitika River Bridge - This bridge is 740 metres long.
- Haast River Bridge - It is 737 metres long.
Single Lane Bridges: A Bit of a Wait
Because New Zealand doesn't have as much traffic as some other countries, it used to have many single-lane bridges. This meant only one direction of traffic could cross at a time, so cars often had to wait. While many of these have been replaced with wider, two-lane bridges, some still exist on smaller roads.
One famous single-lane bridge was the Kopu Bridge over the Waihou River. It was 463 metres long and was the oldest and one of the longest single-lane bridges on a main highway until 2011. It was replaced by a new, wider, two-lane bridge that opened on December 12, 2011.
Viaducts: Bridges Over Valleys
Viaducts are like long bridges that cross valleys or other low areas, often carrying roads or railways. New Zealand has several notable viaducts:
Rail Bridges: For Trains Only
Rail transport in New Zealand Trains in New Zealand also need many bridges to cross rivers and rough land. There are 1,787 bridges on the country's rail network! These are looked after by KiwiRail, the company that manages New Zealand's railway lines.
Road/Rail Bridges: Sharing the Way
Sometimes, roads and railways share the same bridge. On the West Coast of the South Island, there are two bridges where train tracks run right on the road!
The Awatere River bridge used to have a railway line above the road until 2008. Now, a new road bridge has been built, and the old bridge is used only by trains.
Some old railway bridges are now used only by cars. For example, the Pekatahi Bridge over the Whakatane River used to carry both State Highway Two and a railway line. The train tracks were removed in 2019, so now only cars use it.
Another interesting one is the double-deck bridge at Karangahake Gorge over the Ohinemuri River. The lower level still carries a local road, but the upper level, which used to have a railway, is now a walking path.
Footbridges: For Walkers and Hikers
New Zealand has many large rivers, especially in its wilder areas. This means there are lots of footbridges for people to cross on foot.
In the 1950s, many bridges were built in the countryside along with small huts. These helped hunters get into forests to control the number of deer, which had become a problem. Some of these old bridges are still there, while others have been replaced or washed away by floods. Today, these footbridges are very popular with people who enjoy tramping (hiking) and exploring the outdoors.
Notable Bridges: Famous Crossings
List of bridges in New Zealand
- The Auckland Harbour Bridge is one of New Zealand's most famous bridges. It crosses the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, the country's largest city.
- The Bridge to Nowhere is a concrete road bridge in Whanganui National Park. It's quite unique because it has no roads leading to it! It was built a long time ago to help farmers access a remote forest area, but the plan didn't work out. Even though it's isolated, it's a popular spot for tourists who visit by boat or kayak.
