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Bridge to Nowhere by possumgirl2 –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Bridge to Nowhere, Manawatu-Wanganui

 The bridge to Nowhere in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand, is an abandoned concrete through-arch bridge built in the 1960s to carry State Highway 1 over Mangaroa Harbour. The idea of building a bridge there came after a 1949 public meeting, and the construction began on 17 October 1962 at the cost of around 5 million NZD.

The project was cancelled on 12 January 1969 after protests from residents but was resurrected by new owners and reopened on 30 November 1971 as part of SH1. Despite this, it became little more than an astounding tourist attraction, with many people driving across it to take photographs and videos. On 1 November 2010, the bridge was closed and replaced with a new structure as part of the Manawatu Gorge road tunnel project.

Despite this, hundreds still visit the bridge every year, taking photos and even jumping off it into the water below. Here are some interesting facts about The Bridge to Nowhere. Read on.

1.The Bridge To Nowhere Was Built In The 1920s By A Private Company

Bridge to Nowhere by possumgirl2 –

The viaduct was built in the 1920s by a private company, and the State Rail Authority (SRA) took over its operation in 1948. It was originally designed to carry both passenger and freight trains, but it became known as an important commuter route for Wellington commuters from Lower Hutt to Wellington Airport.

The SRA closed the line in 1975 due to low patronage and maintenance costs. In 1976, after much public pressure, the government reopened it as part of a new commuter rail system between Palmerston North and Wellington.

2.The Bridge To Nowhere Is Named After Manawatu Gorge Viaduct

The Bridge to Nowhere is named after the Manawatu Gorge Viaduct. The Manawatu Gorge Viaduct is a major road bridge that carries State Highway 2 across the Manawatu Gorge. It is located at km marker 131 on State Highway 1 south of Woodville in the Tararua district in New Zealand’s capital city Wellington. It spans Mangaroa Harbour on its way to Palmerston North.

3.The Bridge To Nowhere Is Located In The Manawatu-Wanganui District Of New Zealand

The bridge to nowhere is located in the Manawatu-Wanganui district of New Zealand. It was built as part of a road project connecting the cities of Palmerston North and Levin. The construction started in 1986 but was never finished due to a lack of funds. The bridge is made up of two large steel beams connected by concrete pillars. The total length is 2,000 feet, the same as 610 meters.

4.The Bridge To Nowhere Was Built On The Site Of A Railway Station

Sir Robert Muldoon by Archives New Zealand –

The bridge to nowhere was built on the site of a railway station, which had been closed in 1959. It was named after Sir Robert Muldoon, New Zealand’s prime minister at the time. The bridge cost $75 million and took four years to build. When it opened in 1987, it was the longest single-span road bridge in the world. The opening ceremony featured a helicopter flyover by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a pop group, Men at Work performance.

5.The Bridge To Nowhere Was Built By A Local Council

The Bridge to Nowhere was built by a local council and has been an issue for many years. The project was abandoned after it became clear that the cost would be much higher than expected, and there were no guarantees that it would ever be completed. The original contract was only supposed to last 15 years. There are several reasons why this bridge never got off the ground. However, when construction began, it did not take even ten years before being stopped due to lack of funding.

6.Railtrack Owns The Bridge

The bridge is owned by Railtrack, now part of Network Rail. They have made no effort to use it since construction finished in 1979, despite being approached several times by councils wanting to use it as an alternative transport link between the two cities or as a tourist attraction.

7.The Bridge Was Built To Link The Towns Of Manawatu And Wanganui

The bridge was built to link the towns of Manawatu and Wanganui. It was never completed due to funding problems, but it is still there. The bridge has been closed since December 2011 and is now in a state of disrepair. There are plans for it to be reopened as an adventure walkway or cycleway at some stage in the future.

8.The Bridge Was Built On A Remote Section Of The Manawatu River

Manawatu River by Pseudopanax –

The bridge was built on a remote section of the Manawatu River, which flows through New Zealand’s North Island centre. The bridge is located in the town of Marton, about 15 kilometres from Palmerston North – and close to where explorer Abel Tasman first set foot in New Zealand on 28 December 1642. It is also known as the Bridge to Nowhere because it was intended for road traffic only but never opened to public use.

9.There Had Been Several Attempts To Complete Building The Bridge To Nowhere

Jim Bolger by New Zealand Government –

The idea to build the Bridge to Nowhere was first conceived in 1977 by Sir Robert Muldoon, then Prime Minister. The project has since been put on hold due to a lack of funding, and it is unlikely that it will ever be completed. However, several attempts have been made to build this bridge over the years. In 1996, former Prime Minister Jim Bolger announced plans for a new motorway between Wellington and Auckland via Masterton and Palmerston North. This proposal was also never realised due to a lack of funds. 

10.The Bridge Is The Longest Suspension Bridge In New Zealand, With A Total Length Of 1.5 Km

The bridge’s total length of 1.5 km equates to 1 mile. The main span is 1,750 meters, the same as 4,921 ft and consists of three towers, each 230 m high or 755 ft. Each tower has two pairs of cables suspended from it; one pair for traffic lanes and another pair for pedestrian pathways.