Kurow and Hakataramea yesterday celebrated the opening of the first of two new bridges over the Waitaki River linking their communities, but motorists will have to wait a couple more days before they can.
The new two-lane and cycleway south branch bridge, part of a $21 million investment by the New Zealand Transport Agency, was officially open for about 400 people to walk over while traffic trundled past on the old single lane, 132-year-old bridge beside it.
Traffic will start using the new bridge from Monday, initially as a single lane while the neighbouring wooden bridge is demolished and part of the southern approach built.
Contractors expect to have the second, longer bridge over the north branch completed by the end of next month or June, then there will be another opening.
The third, and final, celebration will be held when beams from the old bridges are lowered on to Kurow Island to form part of an enhancement project and a reminder of the structures built by pioneers from hardwood that withstood the Waitaki River for 132 years.
That will end more than a decade of pressure to have the bridges replaced, fearing a major flood could cut them off.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean turned the first sod for the new bridges on March 7 last year, at that time accompanied by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton and Waimate Mayor John Coles.
Mrs Dean yesterday cut a ribbon to officially open the first new bridge, but this time she was accompanied by new Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley and new Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher.
Otematata piper Hugh Cameron led about 110 Waitaki Valley School pupils across the bridge, followed by official guests and the crowd.
The first car across the bridge after the official opening was a burgundy 1938 Pontiac Silver Streak, owned and driven by Trevor Appleby (70) with passengers including sisters Yvonne Foster (73) and Aileen Parker (66), nee Welsh, who were among the oldest continuous users of the bridge.
Mrs Parker first crossed the bridge to Hakataramea when she was only two weeks old, going home after being born in the Kurow Maternity Hospital.
Mrs Dean said time should be taken to reflect on the enormous contribution the old bridges had made to creating a strong and vibrant community in the Waitaki Valley.
The new bridges would open new and exciting opportunities for the area, she predicted.
''I appreciate many people have waited a long time for this bridge opening, so enjoy what is not only a historic day for transport in the Waitaki Valley but also one that will open the door for a greater future,'' she said.
Mr Kircher said the opening would form ''a significant part of local history; the day they opened the first two-lane bridge between Kurow and Hakataramea.
''Keep up the great work,'' he told contractors, ''you've still got one more to go.''
Mr Coles outlined the history behind the lobbying for the project and said it was hard to believe the first of the new bridges was being opened.`When the two bridges are finally opened, this will give the local communities the assured ability to cross the Waitaki River at any time, day or night. We will see a lot more travelling public also using the route,'' he said.
