Victoria Bridge, Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victoria Bridge |
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| Carries | Motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians |
| Crosses | Waikato River |
| Other name(s) | Hamilton Traffic Bridge |
| Owner | Hamilton City Council |
| Preceded by | Cobham Bridge |
| Followed by | Claudelands Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Longest span | 103.6 m |
| Number of spans | three |
| Piers in water | nil |
| History | |
| Designer | James Fulton |
| Constructed by | G M Fraser |
| Construction begin | 1909 |
| Opened | 1910 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 26,100 (2018) |
The Victoria Bridge is a famous steel arch bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand. It was once called the Hamilton Traffic Bridge. This bridge is very old and important, so it has special heritage protection.
The main arch of the bridge is about 103 meters (340 feet) long. The whole bridge stretches for about 152 meters (500 feet). It has a road that is 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide and a footpath for walking. The Victoria Bridge replaced an older wooden bridge from 1879. In 1929, stone steps were added on the western side. These steps connect the bridge to an area called Ferry Bank.
Contents
Connecting Hamilton: Bridge Location
The Victoria Bridge links two parts of Hamilton: Hamilton Central and Hamilton East. It crosses the Waikato River. The bridge was designed by James Fulton. A builder named G M Fraser was in charge of putting it together. The parts for the bridge were made in England. Building the bridge started in 1909.
How the Bridge Road Got Its Name
The road that goes over the bridge has had a few different names. Before 1930, it was known as Richmond Street. Later, it became Bridge Street. In November 2015, the road was officially renamed Anzac Parade.
Keeping the Bridge Strong: Repairs
Over the years, the Victoria Bridge has needed some repairs to stay strong. In 1919, parts of the western end of the bridge needed to be made stronger. About ten years later, engineers noticed that the bridge's foundations had moved a little. The top of the arch had also dropped slightly.
To keep everyone safe, limits were put on how heavy vehicles could be. Also, cars could only go 16 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour) over the bridge. The bridge was fixed and lifted up in 1937.
A Special Landmark: Heritage Status
Because the Victoria Bridge is so important to history, it was given a special status. On August 30, 1990, it was listed as a Category I 'Historic Place'. This means it is a very important historical site in New Zealand. This listing was done by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which is now called Heritage New Zealand.
The Victoria Bridge Today
In 2010, the Victoria Bridge celebrated its 100th birthday! There was a big party in the park to mark the occasion. A new lighting system was also turned on. These special LED lights can change colors and light up the bridge for many years. The Perry Foundation helped pay for this amazing light show.
The birthday party included a parade with people dressed in old-fashioned clothes and classic cars. There were also rides and fun activities for kids. The celebration ended with a special movie shown on a big screen next to the PS Rangiriri. This is Hamilton's historic paddle steamer. After the movie, the new light show on the bridge began. The lights can be changed to special colors for sports teams or holidays.
Bronze Figures on the Bridge
Since 2010, you can see bronze figures attached to the bridge railings. These figures show important people from Hamilton's early history. They help celebrate the city's past and its connection to the river.
However, some people feel that these figures mostly show one side of history. They believe the figures don't fully show the rich history of the local Māori people. Sometimes, other figures appear on the bridge. These "balancing" figures help to highlight the missing parts of the story.
Images for kids
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Victoria Bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand
