Bertrand Road suspension bridge

Bertrand Road suspension bridge

The Bertrand Road suspension bridge crosses the Waitara River, linking Huirangi, near Lepperton and Tikorangi in north Taranaki, New Zealand. The original bridge was built in 1897, and rebuilt in 1927 (using an adapted form of the original design).

The original idea for the bridge was proposed by a Waitara councillor, Levi Sarten, as crossing the river to Tikorangi was proving treacherous, and road access to the area was poor. [web cite |first = Sorrel |last = Hoskin |title = 'Norma Schultz and the Bertrand Rd. Bridge' |url = http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/bertrandrdbridge.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-31. For information on Mr. Sarten, see web cite |first = Rhonda |last = Bartle |title = 'Levi Sarten and the Hole in the Wall' |url = http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/businessAndindustry/levisart.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-31 ] The bridge was subsequently built across the river in 1897, with a length of 210 feet, a width of 9 feet and at a cost of £695. [web cite |first = Sorrel |last = Hoskin |title = 'Norma Schultz and the Bertrand Rd. Bridge' |url = http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/bertrandrdbridge.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-31 Hoskin notes the width of the bridge as being 14 feet.]

In the 1920s, the bridge was damaged by flooding, and was dismantled to build another crossing, using wood and steelwork from its predecessor. The second crossing opened in 1927, using a modified version of the original design, which made the bridge stronger and more wind resistant. [web cite |title = 'IPENZ Heritage Newsletter June 2007' |url = http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/Heritage-Nwsltr-Jun07.pdf |accessdate = 2007-12-31 , page 4. ]

Over time, the bridge started to age, with height and weight restrictions imposed to extend its life. The bridge was eventually declared unsafe, and was closed to vehicular traffic in 1985. [ web cite |first = Sorrel |last = Hoskin |title = 'Norma Schultz and the Bertrand Rd. Bridge' |url = http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/bertrandrdbridge.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-31 and Cycling Advocates' New Zealand web cite |title = 'Bridge trust may be running out of time' |url = http://www.can.org.nz/ecan/ecan92.html#7 |accessdate = 2007-12-31 agree that the bridge was closed in 1985. Page 5 of the following source web cite |title = 'IPENZ Heritage Newsletter June 2007' |url = http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/Heritage-Nwsltr-Jun07.pdf |accessdate = 2007-12-31 claims that the bridge was closed in 1995. ] This resulted in a 16 kilometre detour. However, the bridge was still open for foot traffic and recreational use. Many attempts to reopen the bridge were unsuccessful, and the bridge became completely closed to all users in 2004.

A trust was set up to reopen the bridge, with a community fundraising scheme. This included a "buy a plank" initiative, where a donation saw the donor's name engraved on the bridge. Further funding was received from the TSB Community Trust, and the New Zealand Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee.

Using as much of the old bridge design as possible, and after raising $630,000, the bridge was reopened to all traffic in June 2006. [ web cite |first = Sorrel |last = Hoskin |title = 'Norma Schultz and the Bertrand Rd. Bridge' |url = http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/bertrandrdbridge.htm |accessdate = 2007-12-31] The bridge now has a central span of 61 metres and a maximum weight restriction of 4 tonnes. [web cite |title = 'IPENZ Heritage Newsletter June 2007' |url = http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/Heritage-Nwsltr-Jun07.pdf |accessdate = 2007-12-31 page 5 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/bertrandrdbridge.htm Puke Ariki - Taranaki Stories]
* [http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/Heritage-Nwsltr-June-07.pdf IPENZ Heritage Newsletter]
* [http://www.can.org.nz/ecan/ecan92.html#7 Cycling Advocates' New Zealand]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • List of bridges — The list of bridges is a link page for any bridges that are notable enough to have an article, or that are likely to have an article in the future.Afghanistan*Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge *Tajik Afghan Friendship… …   Wikipedia

  • Waitara River — The source of the Waitara River lies in the very steep hill country to the east of Mt. Taranaki (Egmont), near Tahora. After proceeding in a southwesterly direction toward Central Taranaki, the river abruptly turns to flow in a northeasterly… …   Wikipedia

  • Huirangi — Infobox Settlement name = Huirangi subdivision type = Country subdivision name = New Zealand subdivision type1= Region subdivision name1= Taranaki subdivision type2= District subdivision name2= New Plymouth District pushpin pushpin label position …   Wikipedia

  • Tikorangi — Tikorangi …   Wikipedia

  • technology, history of — Introduction       the development over time of systematic techniques for making and doing things. The term technology, a combination of the Greek technē, “art, craft,” with logos, “word, speech,” meant in Greece a discourse on the arts, both… …   Universalium

  • Dates of 2004 — ▪ 2005 January It turns out we were all wrong, probably, in my judgment. David Kay, former U.S. chief weapons inspector in Iraq, in testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, January 28 January 1              Haitian Pres. Jean… …   Universalium

  • Italy — /it l ee/, n. a republic in S Europe, comprising a peninsula S of the Alps, and Sicily, Sardinia, Elba, and other smaller islands: a kingdom 1870 1946. 57,534,088; 116,294 sq. mi. (301,200 sq. km). Cap.: Rome. Italian, Italia. * * * Italy… …   Universalium

  • List of National Historic Sites of Canada — This is a complete list of the National Historic Sites of Canada. All such designations are made by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada . As of March 2008, there are 935 sites …   Wikipedia

  • List of heraldic charges — This article does not cover those charges which derive their shape in part from that of the field; see Ordinary (heraldry). Subordinary chargesA few simple charges are traditionally, and arbitrarily, classified among the subordinaries. (All other …   Wikipedia

  • France — /frans, frahns/; Fr. /frddahonns/, n. 1. Anatole /ann nann tawl /, (Jacques Anatole Thibault), 1844 1924, French novelist and essayist: Nobel prize 1921. 2. a republic in W Europe. 58,470,421; 212,736 sq. mi. (550,985 sq. km). Cap.: Paris. 3.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”