Te Rewa Rewa Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°02′16″S174°06′44″E / 39.03777°S 174.11229°E |
Carries | pedestrians, cyclists |
Crosses | Waiwhakaiho River |
Locale | New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand |
Official name | Te Rewa Rewa Bridge |
Characteristics | |
Design | steel arch |
Material | Steel, concrete deck |
Total length | 70 m |
Width | 2.5 m |
Height | 10 m at highest point |
Longest span | 68.8 m |
No. of spans | 1 |
Piers in water | nil |
Clearance below | 4.5 m |
History | |
Designer | Novare Design Ltd |
Constructed by | Whitaker Civil Engineering |
Construction start | 2008 |
Construction end | 2010 |
Opened | 5 June 2010 |
Location | |
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge is a pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Waiwhakaiho River at New Plymouth in New Zealand. Its spectacular shape and setting make it a popular landmark. [1]
The bridge is part of the northern extension to the Coastal Walkway, connecting New Plymouth with Bell Block. The extension was made possible by a special agreement between Ngāti Tawhirikura hapū and the New Plymouth District Council. A historic pā is located on the north river bank and this was the site of a battle during the Musket Wars; the site is a burial ground (Rewa Rewa). [2] The bridge is located in a semi-rural area.
The bridge was commissioned by New Plymouth District Council and designed and constructed by a consortium of Whitaker Civil Engineering, Novare Design Ltd, Apex Consultants Ltd (now Spiire) and Fitzroy Engineering. [3] The bridge was funded by New Plymouth District Council and the Whitaker family. [4]
The designer, Peter Mulqueen, is quoted as saying he understood that the bridge should "touch lightly" on the Rewa Rewa side of the river, in order to honour the deceased. This ruled out heavier designs like cable stays and angular truss structures. Mulqueen wanted to achieve a bridge with a "harmonious and dignified character". [2]
With the ribs yielding to the prevailing wind, the bridge is aligned to Mount Taranaki. The sacred mountain is framed within the skewed arch when viewed while leaving the sacred ground – promising what is eternal.
The 68.8 metres (226 ft) bridge is designed to accommodate an ambulance and other service vehicles. It is made of three steel tubes; two beneath the deck and the remaining one, together with 19 ribs, forming a distinctive arch. 85 t of fabrication steel, 62 t of reinforcing steel and 550 m3 (19,000 cu ft) of concrete have been used for its construction. The bridge deck has been placed at 4.5 metres (15 ft) above normal flow level to withstand both floods and lahars from volcanic eruptions. [2]
A major challenge was to transport the 85 metres (279 ft) long and 85 t superstructure onto the site, including across a private golf course. River contamination and disturbance was to be avoided, so no temporary piers were used. [2]
The bridge was officially opened on 5 June 2010. [5] In July 2010, its first full month of operation, the bridge was used by 55,756 cyclists and pedestrians. [1]
Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont.
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Mount Taranaki is a dormant stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. At 2,518 metres (8,261 ft), it is the second highest mountain in the North Island, after Mount Ruapehu. It has a secondary cone, Fanthams Peak, 1,966 metres (6,450 ft), on its south side.
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The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. Initially known as New Plymouth Province, the province was renamed on 1 January 1859 as the Taranaki Province.
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The Waiwhakaiho River is a river of the Taranaki Region of New Zealand's North Island. One of many rivers and streams radiating from the slopes of Taranaki/Mount Egmont, it flows initially northeast before veering northwest to reach the Tasman Sea close to the New Plymouth suburb of Fitzroy. Near the sea, it is crossed by the coastal walkway, connecting New Plymouth with Bell Block via the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge.
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The Coastal Walkway is a 12.7-kilometre (7.9 mi) long walkway located along the coast of New Plymouth, New Zealand. The walkway stretches from near Port Taranaki, past the central city, through Hickford Park, past Bell Block Beach and to Tiromoana Crescent in Bell Block, north-east of New Plymouth. The walkway runs through a number of bridges, most notably, the Te Rewa Rewa Bridge.
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Bell Block is a town in Taranaki, New Zealand. State Highway 3 runs through it. It is 6 km north-east of the centre of New Plymouth and 1 km from the outer edge of New Plymouth at Waiwhakaiho. Waitara is about 9 km to the north-east. New Plymouth Airport is located immediately to the north-east of Bell Block.
Waiwhakaiho is an industrial suburb of New Plymouth, in the Taranaki region, on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.