New Waiohine Gorge Bridge Officially Opened

New Waiohine Gorge suspension bridge officially opened

Congestion at one of the most popular entrances to the eastern Tararua Forest Park has been consigned to the past, thanks to the erection of a new footbridge spanning the Waiohine Gorge.

Posing beside the new Waiohine Gorge bridge are Martin Wilson, left,
from Abseil Access, the company that built the bridge, and bridge designer
Alan Dallas, Department of Conservation structures engineer
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One of New Zealand’s tallest and longest suspension bridges, this spectacular gateway to the park carries eight people, providing much easier access into the park than its predecessor, an 18 year-old swingbridge with a one person loading, and a generous swing in high winds.

Department of Conservation staff and contractors involved in the design and construction of both bridges were onsite today to celebrate the official opening of the 94-metre bridge, completed by Wellington-based Abseil Access at the end of July.

Designed by DOC structures engineer Alan Dallas, it is supported by 7 metre high towers, 26mm diameter wire rope and it has an 8 tonne capacity. Pipe handrails, steel web grate deck, and safety mesh have been installed on both sides of the bridge, which cost around $100,000.

DOC Wairarapa area manager Chris Lester said the new bridge would enhance one of the Wairarapa’s best known recreation sites.

“It will meet the needs of a variety of outdoor enthusiasts – from family groups on a day outing, to the more experienced trampers and hunters wanting to access the park.”

As well as being a main access point to the park, Waiohine Gorge offers such activities as camping, picnicking, kayaking, rafting, abseiling, fishing, short walks… and the chance to swim in
crystal clear water in summer.

Several tramps begin at the bridge, leading to the 26-bunk Totara Flats Hut, the historic Cone Hut and Tutuwai hut.

“While the old swingbridge was safe, our engineer advised its replacement given its location in a high use area,” Mr Lester said. “It had quite a generous swing in high winds, and could carry just one person at a time. That led to congestion at busy times of the year, with people sometimes having to wait up to half an hour to get onto the bridge.”

DOC Kapiti Area manager Ian Cooksley, the former Forest Service bridge builder who constructed the old swingbridge, and many others nationwide, said such bridges were built in an earlier era to a standard design, for low use, “back block” areas and with trampers and hunters in mind.

“Bridges nowadays are designed specifically for sites, reflecting the increasing popularity of road end and front country areas for a variety of outdoor pursuits.

“The Waiohine Gorge, with its landmark bridge, has become a destination in its own right, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The old bridge was no longer appropriate for this high use.”

Mr Cooksley said bridge building techniques had changed since the days when Forest Service staff used pulleys and shovels to build swing bridges.

“Contractors building bridges now use helicopters instead of pulleys, and diggers instead of shovels. But they still face the same frustrations with cold and wet weather.”

And taniwhas, quipped Martin Wilson, managing director of Abseil Access, which specialises in height access engineering work.

“The two towers needed to be square onto each other and exactly the right distance apart, but we encountered problems measuring the distances across the 35 metre deep gorge.

“We tried throwing some our tools into the river as a sacrifice to the Waiohine taniwha, but eventually had to go rafting in the river to solve some of the problems. Once the river gods knew what we were up to things came right.”

The Waiohine Gorge bridge is second and biggest bridge built by the company, which also constructed the Pillar of Hercules in the Kaimanawa Forest Park.

An aerial cableway and rope access skills were required to install 26mm galvanised cables and 44 steel hangers across the deep gorge.

Mr Wilson said the construction team wasn’t fazed by the heights, adverse weather conditions, muddy ground, and “grumpy taniwhas”.

Highlights included saving two big native trees on one side of the bridge, by slotting the bridge in between them, and managing to remove an obstructive rock, weighing more than a tonne and “bigger than the digger”.

The sub-contractors involved with the project were also acknowledged at the event. Gisborne Helicopters lifted the towers into the site, Amalgamated Helicopters flew the concrete in, and Masterton firm Loader Construction manufactured components of the bridge. A Department of Corrections community work programme team tidied up the bridge approaches.

Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee said Carterton was the gateway to the Tararuas and the Waiohine Gorge is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the Wairarapa.

“It’s great that you can get into quite dense bush on a Sunday afternoon for a walk. I’ve been taking my children there since they were very young.”

As well as offering a range of outdoor pursuits, the Waiohine Valley boasts some unique flora and fauna, including the forest tree giants matai, northern rata and red beech. It’s home to such rare species such as the tiny native short tailed bat and the semi parasitic beech mistletoe. Bellbirds, kereru, morepork, tomtits, longtailed cuckoo, kaka, and forest gecko also reside in the forest, along with the native snail, and a peculiar creature called peripetus, an ancient species that is a cross between a caterpillar and a worm. This giant native phosphorescent worm slithers about in the loose soil of this area, secreting large amounts of glowing slime to defend itself if disturbed at night.

ENDS

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