Aramoho Railway Bridge's claim to fame - the dodgiest bridge in Whanganui. Photo / NZME
Aramoho Railway Bridge's claim to fame - the dodgiest bridge in Whanganui. Photo / NZME
If there’s one thing Whanganui does well, it’s bridges.
The fact we have a massive river running through the middle of our town makes us a bit bridge-obsessed.
I’ve lived in this city for almost two years now and I’ve probably crossed the bridges countless times. Walking, running, driving, whatever way you do it, there’s just no way to avoid Whanganui’s bridges.
But which bridge is best? For this list, the ranking is based on the wow factor each bridge brings when you’re looking at it, and how it feels when you’re making a crossing - the user experience. I’m not considering their structural integrity as I’m not an engineer.
If you’ve ever run across this bridge on a windy day and felt it groaning and swaying beneath you, you’ve likely yelled: ‘Is this thing even safe?’. Despite $10,000 worth of temporary patching on the worst areas of this bridge it still feels like walking on a path patched up with grated cement and riddled with potholes.
In terms of a crossing experience, that near-death feeling and the fact that a train could come rushing past you at any time and leave you clinging for your life to the rickety barrier may satisfy the thrill-seeker, but for most river-crossing commutes it’s not what you’re looking for.
Temporary patching of the pathway on the Aramoho Railway Bridge took place last June - but it's still scary. Photo / NZME
4. Cobham Bridge (aka the Motorway Bridge)
A favourite with truck drivers cruising through Whanganui on their way to somewhere else.
This bridge has an 80km/h speed limit which is nice and speedy, but often just leads to agitated drivers being held up by cars that haven’t accelerated from the urban 50km/h.
It’s also flat, featureless and is part of State Highway 3. Overall, it’s just uninspiring.
If you’re going to be a standout bridge, you can’t have a nickname that references how similar you are to the road.
3/10
Trucks are big users of the Cobham Bridge - they can have it. Photo / NZME
3. Dublin St Bridge
It looks like a line of cheese graters lying on their side.
It’s also the only bridge with a double-lane, spacious pathway which makes it less likely for scuffles to break out between bikers and walkers.
The popularity of this bridge means you’re likely to get stuck in a line of traffic crawling across it but there are worse places to be - at least you’re not fearing for your life on the Railway Bridge.
A replacement for this bridge is being proposed foran eye-watering $62.5m, which makes me wonder if the cheese graters aren’t so shabby after all.
Maybe the Dublin St Bridge cheese grater look isn't so bad. Photo / NZME
Traffic on the Dublin St Bridge.
2. Whanganui City Bridge
Originally built 153 years ago, this is Whanganui’s oldest main river crossing (though the original structure has long been replaced) but it still hasn’t lost its touch.
It’s a classic - the kind grandfather of the bridges. It gives you a seamless crossing experience, with both car and pedestrian crossing options delivering you right to the town centre.
The wrought-iron arch on the town side is quintessentially Whanganui, and walking beneath it feels like a loving embrace as you make your way on to the main streets of the River City. An ageless, simple bridge that most locals have a soft spot for.
8/10
The City Bridge is like everyone's favourite kind grandfather.
1. Upokongaro Cycle Bridge
Yes, that’s right. The Upokongaro Cycle Bridge is the best bridgein Whanganui.
A newcomer to the bridge game, the Upokongaro Cycle Bridge was only unveiled in 2020 but, boy, was it worth the wait.
Its dramatic sweeping shape makes this the most architecturally daring of all the bridges and by far the nicest to look at. The white concrete pathway is buttery-smooth.
It may be controversial to place such an under-used bridge at the top, but it is precisely because of its seclusion that it has such charm. Being carless, it’s quiet and picturesque, and has a knockout view of the Whanganui River.
The purpose of a bridge is to get from A to B but a bridge that makes you stop and take in the sights, and remember the beauty around you, is a winner.
It may be the youngest bridge, but it’s definitely number one in Whanganui.
The Upokongaro Cycle Bridge may be a baby in terms of bridge years but it's a winner. Photo / NZME
The Upokongaro Cycle Bridge opened in 2020. Photo / NZME
Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023. You can contact her on eva.dejong@nzme.co.nz
