Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge
View through the steel arch of a bridge, with a mountain in the background
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge with Mount Taranaki in the background
Coordinates39°02′16″S 174°06′44″E / 39.03777°S 174.11229°E / -39.03777; 174.11229 (Te Rewa Rewa Bridge)
Carriespedestrians, cyclists
CrossesWaiwhakaiho River
LocaleNew Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Official nameTe Rewa Rewa Bridge
Characteristics
Designsteel arch
MaterialSteel, concrete deck
Total length70 m
Width2.5 m
Height10 m at highest point
Longest span68.8 m
No. of spans1
Piers in waternil
Clearance below4.5 m
History
DesignerNovare Design Ltd
Constructed byWhitaker Civil Engineering
Construction start2008
Construction end2010
Opened5 June 2010 (2010-06-05)
Location
Map

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge is a pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Waiwhakaiho River at New Plymouth in New Zealand. Its spectacular shape and setting make it a popular landmark.[1]

Location and history

The bridge is part of the northern extension to the Coastal Walkway, connecting New Plymouth with Bell Block. The extension was made possible by a special agreement between Ngāti Tawhirikura hapū and the New Plymouth District Council. A historic pā is located on the north river bank and this was the site of a battle during the Musket Wars; the site is a burial ground (Rewa Rewa).[2] The bridge is located in a semi-rural area.

Design and construction

The bridge was commissioned by New Plymouth District Council and designed and constructed by a consortium of Whitaker Civil Engineering, Novare Design Ltd, Apex Consultants Ltd (now Spiire) and Fitzroy Engineering.[3] The bridge was funded by New Plymouth District Council and the Whitaker family.[4]

Bridge design

The bridge is designed to evoke a sense of wind as a metaphor for the enduring spirit of the dead buried around the Rewa Rewa Pa site

The designer, Peter Mulqueen, is quoted as saying he understood that the bridge should "touch lightly" on the Rewa Rewa side of the river, in order to honour the deceased. This ruled out heavier designs like cable stays and angular truss structures. Mulqueen wanted to achieve a bridge with a "harmonious and dignified character".[2]

With the ribs yielding to the prevailing wind, the bridge is aligned to Mount Taranaki. The sacred mountain is framed within the skewed arch when viewed while leaving the sacred ground – promising what is eternal.

Engineering design

The 68.8 metres (226 ft) bridge is designed to accommodate an ambulance and other service vehicles. It is made of three steel tubes; two beneath the deck and the remaining one, together with 19 ribs, forming a distinctive arch. 85 t of fabrication steel, 62 t of reinforcing steel and 550 m3 (19,000 cu ft) of concrete have been used for its construction. The bridge deck has been placed at 4.5 metres (15 ft) above normal flow level to withstand both floods and lahars from volcanic eruptions.[2]

A major challenge was to transport the 85 metres (279 ft) long and 85 t superstructure onto the site, including across a private golf course. River contamination and disturbance was to be avoided, so no temporary piers were used.[2]

Opening

The bridge was officially opened on 5 June 2010.[5] In July 2010, its first full month of operation, the bridge was used by 55,756 cyclists and pedestrians.[1]

Awards

  • 2011 Arthur G. Hayden Medal for a single recent outstanding achievement in bridge engineering demonstrating innovation in special use bridges.[6]
  • 2011 Ingenium Excellence Awards.[7]
  • 2011 International Footbridge Award in the aesthetics category (medium span).[8]
  • 2011 Supreme Award from industry group Roading New Zealand[9]
  • 2011 Taranaki Master Builders supreme award for a commercial facility[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Lynch, Daniel (9 August 2010). "Crowds flock to Te Rewa Rewa bridge". Taranaki Daily News.
  2. ^ a b c d Frances, Helen (July–August 2010). "Iconic Te Rewa Rewa". e.nz magazine. 11/4. Wellington: IPENZ: 31–34. ISSN 1175-2025.
  3. ^ "Coastal Walkway Extension". NPDC. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
  4. ^ Rilkoff, Matt (24 December 2011). "Whitaker's bridge". Taranaki Daily News.
  5. ^ Johnston, Kirsty (7 June 2010). "$2.8m structure open for business". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  6. ^ "International Bridge Conference®: Bridge Awards 2011". Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009.
  7. ^ Saunders, Kate (20 June 2011). "Elegant bridge earns top award for engineers". Taranaki Daily News.
  8. ^ Moir, Jo (7 July 2011). "Te Rewa Rewa 'best in the world'". Taranaki Daily News.
  9. ^ "Iconic New Plymouth bridge wins 2011 Roading Award" (Press release). Roading New Zealand. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  10. ^ Dickens, Stephen (28 October 2011). "Iconic bridge wins five awards". ArchitectureNow.
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39°02′16″S 174°06′43″E / 39.037778°S 174.111944°E / -39.037778; 174.111944