Rakaia River Bridge
Posted by: 
3l diesel
S 43° 44.285 E 172° 02.693
59G E 584140 N 5156686
The Rakaia River Bridge is New Zealand's longest road bridge and has been plaqued by the Institution of Professional Engineers, New Zealand (IPENZ).
Waymark Code: WM9PDQ
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/14/2010
Views: 11
From the website of the IPENZ,
"
This bridge, opened in 1939, is NZ’s longest. It is a replacement for a timber bridge begun in 1869 and modified for road-rail traffic in 1873.
This crossing is the country’s longest.
The present concrete bridge is a replacement for a timber bridge begun in 1869 and modified for road-rail traffic in 1873.
The Rakaia road bridge is typical, yet a notable example, as well as the longest, of many standard simply supported reinforced concrete bridges with standard spans, standard parapets and standard appearance.
Completed in 1939 it superseded a frightening crossing of a combined road-rail common deck. The new bridge was 1.1 miles (1.8 km) of 40 feet (12.2 m) spans.
"
The bridge survived the September 2010 Christchurch magnitude 7.1 earthquake (and aftershocks) without major damage. Christchurch is approximately 55km north-east.
Of interest, the writer noted that the ballustrades produced an echo of road noise which was rather distinctive when crossing the bridge by car!
Location:
State Highway 1, Main South Road, north of Rakaia township.
Type of structure/site: Bridge
Date of Construction: 25th March, 1939 (opened)
Engineer/Architect/Builder etc.: Public Works Department
Engineering Organization Listing: Other (specify in description)
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Site: [Web Link]
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