Final promenade as landmark Raglan bridge bows to age

The days of thrillseekers jumping off the Kopua Bridge across Raglan Harbour are over. After an opening ceremony today, the public will be able to walk across the 48-year-old structure before it's demolished. Photo / Alan Gibson

Raglan residents have one last chance to walk across the old Kopua Bridge before it's demolished to hand over to its modern replacement.

The bridge, built in 1963, has been a landmark in the Waikato township, used by people fishing for kahawai and snapper and by generations of thrillseeking children leaping off it into the estuary during the summer, despite being told not to.

But corrosion and old age spelled the end of the wooden structure.

Today, about 200 Raglan Area School pupils will take part in an opening ceremony for a new $3.1 million bridge built by the Waikato District Council, just north of the Kopua Bridge it is replacing.

Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson will cut the ribbon for the formal opening, and the public will be able to walk across the old bridge one last time. Local iwi Ngati Mahanga will then deconsecrate it before demolition begins.

Waikato District Council manager of water and facilities Richard Bax said the bridge wouldn't completely leave the township, despite being demolished.

"We know many generations of people have fond memories of this bridge so we're recycling the hardwood handrail, with two locally made benches to be placed near the barbecue on Kopua Domain," said Mr Bax.

Also, the opening itself would make a contribution to the community, with fundraising opportunities for Lions Leo's Project for Youth, Raglan Operational Support, Te Mata and Raglan Area Schools.

"This new bridge with its distinctive lighting and colours of the sea and paua will, I'm sure, become just as much a part of Raglan's identity as the old bridge," said Mr Bax.

More than 140m in length and with a deck width of 2.2m between the handrails, the new bridge stands 80cm higher than the old one to allow for extra-high tides.