Bridge restores link to outside world

If popping out for a loaf of bread meant clambering over rocks and fording a swollen river just to get to the car, most would settle for crackers instead.

This was the situation faced by residents of Mangatoetoe on South Wairarapa's southeast coast, who lost their road bridge during flooding in March.

For two months their link to the outside world was entirely weather dependent, but now the gumboots can be put away.

A new temporary prefabricated bridge is complete and capable of carrying up to 10 tonnes.

A concrete bridge to carry up to 40 tonnes will replace it when funding is secured, but meanwhile long-time Mangatoetoe resident Elsie Hymers is just delighted she no longer has to worry about whether she will be able to make it to the other side.

It was the second time in 16 years she had seen the bridge washed out to sea, but it was still a shock.

"I thought the second one would be more permanent," she said.

"We worried about it at first but then we didn't have any rain for ages, so this time when it was washed away we weren't really expecting it. I suppose we took the bridge for granted."

Mrs Hymers delved into her emergency food supplies, but got sick and needed antibiotics. She was eventually able to get medication, but not before she felt the direct effect of being completely cut off.

"If it hadn't been for me getting sick, being without a bridge would have been a piece of cake, but then I don't care who you are, everyone gets agitated when they've been locked in somewhere."

Now the bridge is up again, Mrs Hymers is confident this time it is there to stay.

"The council has done a really good job on it, this time it's been built to allow the steam to go through properly," she said.

- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE (MASTERTON)