A blend of nostalgia and optimism permeated a thronging crowd of curious pedestrians visiting Beaumont for the opening of its new bridge yesterday.
More than 1500 people attended Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s soft opening of the new $25 million bridge on State Highway 8 yesterday lunchtime, enjoying a unique opportunity to walk the 195m roadway before it is opened to traffic.
Visitors from as far afield as Invercargill and Dunedin came to inspect the elegant curved structure crossing the Clutha River, alongside hundreds of South and Central Otago locals, many of whom reminisced fondly about the former 1887 bridge, now sitting in its replacement’s shadow.
