Community Contributed

Opiki Suspension Bridge

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:51:40+00:00
Construction of the bridge began in March 1917.
LocationRangitane Road, Opiki

The Tane Swing Bridge, as it was known in its early years, was 477 feet (154.39m) long. It was suspended between two reinforced concrete towers that were 48 feet (14.6m) high above ground, and set about 10 feet into the ground. The bridge was 11 feet wide with a 9 foot carriageway. The towers held 16 cables resting upon rollers that topped each tower. These cables were obtained from the Waihi gold mines and had been tested to hold a weight of about 50 tons. They were attached to long, bronzed-steel rods that were anchored into 25 cubic yards of concrete buried 17 feet into the ground.

See web link below to a site that gives a detailed history of the bridge.

A St Peter's College student in Palmerston North has created this website that contains a brief history of the Opiki suspension bridge, from the draining of the Makurerua Swamp, through the swamp's flax industry, the construction of the bridge, its conversion to a toll bridge, to the closing of the old toll bridge, and the opening of the new bridge at Opiki. Living Heritage is a project that encourages schools to create a website that shares and preserves the stories of their community, whanau, and friends. The projects then become part of the National Library's database of online heritage resources.

Opening of Opiki suspemsion bridge 1918

Opiki Bridge - truck tipped over 1969 or 1970

Opiki Bridge - crane righting truck