Bridge To Nowhere damage studied

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 525, 1 March 1994, Page 1

Bridge To Nowhere damage studied

An investigation is being launched by the Department of Conservation into deterioration of the historic Bridge To Nowhere in the Whanganui National Park. Concrete is flaking off the nearly 60-year old bridge and reinforcing steel that is now visible is rusting. A Lower Hutt firm, Construction Techniques Southern Limited, has been awarded a contract to research deterioration of the bridge. Conservation officer for historic resources, Fiona Wilson, said the Bridge To Nowhere is the most visited structure in the national park and provides essential walking access across the Mangapurua Stream. It was originally built for returned servicemen

who settled in the Mangapurua Valley after World War I. Virgin forest was cleared and 35 farms established in the area with access either by a road from the Waimarino cut into the soft papa rock, or riverboat. Other road construction in the locality encouraged settler expectations that the Mangapurua Road would eventually become part of the proposed Ohura to Waimarino link. A wooden swing bridge traversed the Mangapurua Stream. By 1928 the damp had rotted the swingbridge. Plans for another suspension bridge were mooted but discarded in favour of a reinforced concrete bridge. Plans were drawn up by the Public Works Department in 1933, construction began in 1935 and it was completed the following year.

All but three farms were abandoned by 1942 because of economic hardship, inaccessibility and erosion. The remaining settlers were forced to leave when the government closed the valley that year. "The Bridge To Nowhere is now surrounded by regenerating bush with foot access only and is a .sobering reflection on the wisdom of developing marginal lands", said Ms Wilson. Little remains of the original homesteads.. 'There has been no maintenance on the bridge since it was built so it's in remarkable condition. We had two options; patch up the bits of flaking concrete or carry out tests to determine the cause, the amount of damage and how much it will cost to fix", she said. DoC chose the latter course.