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A bridge spanned by thousands of Kiwi troops has been saved before heading to the battlefields of World War I.
Upper Hutt city councilors decided Wednesday night to restore the century-old Howe Truss Bridge on Beechwood Lane after it was granted a stay of execution in June.
The Centennial Bridge is one of the last remaining original parts of the highway that once linked Wellington and the Hutt Valley, with Wairarapa. The route was traveled by more than 60,000 soldiers who left Featherston military training ground before embarking for Europe between 1916 and 1918.
Since then, State Highway 2 had replaced the section of the highway as an arterial route, however the bridge has become part of the Remutaka Cycle Trail.
Matthew Tso / Things
Upper Hutt councilors voted to save a century-old bridge on Beechwood Lane that has ties to New Zealand’s World War I troops.
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In June, councilors deferred a decision on the bridge after concerns were raised about the only option before them: tear it down and replace the historic span.
The councilors chose to restore the existing bridge, even though it was not an option that was presented to them. The three recommended options were to install a usable replica bridge, place a self-supported span over the old bridge, or install a newly designed bridge.
Councilman Chris Carson led the charge to save the bridge and said Stuff he was glad he was saved.
The bridge, the last remaining example of a Howe truss under the responsibility of the city council, was important not only to the city, but also to the country.
Supplied
Soldiers destined for World War I begin Remutaka’s march between Camp Featherston in Wairarapa and Camp Trentham in Upper Hutt.
With so many troops using the bridge on their way to war, there would be countless people with a connection to it, he said.
Councilman Dylan Bentley voted in favor of restoration, saying the structure’s lack of formal heritage status was irrelevant.
“What matters is its importance to the community.”
Deputy Mayor Hellen Swales voted against the restoration and said she was concerned for the safety of the public. She was in favor of replacing him.
Matthew Tso / Things
A date on the bridge indicates that it was built in 1902.
Estimates put the cost of the restoration at more than $ 350,000.
The council is likely to ask the New Zealand Transport Agency for help in raising funds. Carson said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment had helped the Greater Wellington Regional Council restore similar nearby bridges, and applying for funding would also be an option.
An earlier Heritage New Zealand assessment placed the bridge’s construction date as “probably 1911”, however a date posted on the concrete foundations indicates that they were placed in 1902.
