The new Goodall St overbridge, which extends across the Southern Motorway between Barnes Dr and Goodall St, was officially opened yesterday by project managers Simon Underwood, of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), and Mark Woodward, of contracting firm Downer.
Caversham resident Bev Cunningham, a daily user of the bridge before it was dismantled to be rebuilt, was also on site with her grandson, Cooper McLean.
Together, they were the first people to walk across the new bridge, closely followed by Mr Underwood, Mr Woodward and a few other locally based NZTA staff.
Mrs Cunningham said she was thrilled about the overbridge opening, which would ease her daily walk around the area with her dogs.
Cooper also enjoyed his heightened view of the highway construction below.
All steel work from the original bridge was reused, halving the construction cost.
Mr Underwood said about $450,000 was spent on the new bridge, which was about 1m higher than its predecessor and almost 30m longer.
"Had we not used the steel from the old bridge, a new bridge would have been about double that cost. All the concrete work is new, but we fully reused all the ramp spans and cross spans," he said.
The new bridge was installed about 20m to the south of the original bridge location on Barnes Dr, but still connected to the Goodall St walkway.
Approval to publicly open the bridge, which was erected last month, arrived late last week.
As part of the highway development project, a walking and cycling path between Barnes Dr and Bridge St was also widened to 2.5m and extended at its northern end to link with South Rd.
"We've also softened the grade where we can along the walkway, so it should be more attractive as a pedestrian route," Mr Underwood said.
Stage two of the project, details of which were still being negotiated, also included improved walking and cycling features.
"The key thing for us is to have improved amenities for all users, not just motorists," Mr Underwood said.
A formal opening of the project's first stage was scheduled for October.
Before then, barrier and guardrail work had to be completed, as well as landscaping and lighting installed.
In summer, the final smooth asphaltic cement layer will be laid on the chip seal road surface.
Overall, the Southern Motorway extension was estimated to cost up to $45 million and improve the entire 13km stretch betweenDunedin and Mosgiel.
The second stage comprised development of the highway from Barnes Dr up to Lookout Point at the intersection of Mornington Rd.
It was expected to cost between $20 million and $25 million and involve two years of construction.
