Opawa River Bridge

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]

Opawa River Bridge
Opawa River Bridge in April 2021
Coordinates41.497007°S 173.961961°E / -41.497007; 173.961961
CrossesOpawa River
LocaleBlenheim, New Zealand
History
Construction start1869
Opened1917
Designated28 June 1990
Reference no.241
Location

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
  1. "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.


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