Kawarau Falls Bridge opening 'milestone' for Queenstown

The opening of the new $22 million Kawarau Falls Bridge. Photo / James Allan

Around 3000 people walked across the new Kawarau Falls Bridge in Queenstown yesterday at its opening ceremony.

The $22 million curved bridge — on the main route to Southland and Fiordland — replaces a ramshackle one-lane bridge built in 1926. The one-laner was originally built as a dam to allow gold prospecting on the Kawarau River bed.

The opening of the new 252-metre bridge was spectacular.

After a blessing by Dean Whaanga, representing Ngai Tahu, and speeches, the NZ Transport Agency's southern region director Jim Harland and other dignitaries drove across the bridge in an electric car. They were closely followed by Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult in a Model T Ford — which had rolled off the production line in the same year the old bridge opened.

Soon after, about 3000 people and several dogs walked across.

Ironically, when the bridge opened to traffic around 2pm, only one lane was available. Cars heading to Queenstown will still use the old bridge until early January.

On January 8, all traffic shifts on to the southbound lane of the new bridge with the old bridge closing. It will be converted into a walking and cycling route. Both lanes of the new bridge, which has a walkway, are due to open fully in April.

Boult described it as a "huge milestone" for the district.