Historic bridge to close for repair

A 109-year-old bridge in the Queenstown Lakes District will close for three days this month to allow for a $30,000 repair, QLDC network operations manager Ian Marshall said.

“The historic Skippers suspension bridge was the subject of a request for service by a member of the public and on closer inspection it was found that some of the cross members had shifted and a crack was developing in one of the transoms,” Mr Marshall said.

The bridge, which is already subject to a weight restriction, remains safe to cross but the work was needed before the crack developed further.

“We will put scaffolding in place and then because of the geographical challenge in getting a large transom into the vicinity, it will be flown into place by helicopter and positioned,” Mr Marshall said. Unlike the original transom’s journey, which must have involved a fairly perilous operation back in 1901.

“There will be some delays for two days beginning 22 February while we get the scaffolding in place and then we will need to close the bridge to traffic on the 24, 25 and 26 February,” Mr Marshall said.

The work, which had been approved by the Historic Places Trust would not be without its challenges, given that the bridge was 93 metres long and 70 metres above the river level.