Key Takeaways
- The historic Skippers Bridge in Queenstown may be abandoned due to safety risks and high repair costs
- The bridge’s cables have suffered "extensive brittle failure" and cannot be safely tested or repaired
- Three options have been proposed to maintain access: repairing the existing bridge, replacing the cables, or building a new pedestrian bridge
- The repair options are estimated to cost over $1 million, while the new bridge option’s cost is unknown
- The bridge is a significant historic and tourist attraction, and its closure would impact access to the Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve and Skippers Point School
Introduction to the Issue
The Skippers Bridge, a historic and popular tourist attraction in Queenstown, may be abandoned due to safety risks and high repair costs. A recent engineer’s report released by the Queenstown Lakes District Council has warned that the 124-year-old bridge should not be reopened to pedestrians or vehicles until damaged cables can be repaired or replaced. The report notes that the cables have suffered "extensive brittle failure" and that testing their load capacity would be impossible and potentially catastrophic. The council has yet to consider the contents of the report and will be assessing the proposed options as part of the annual plan process.
The Bridge’s History and Significance
The Skippers Bridge is a significant historic and tourist attraction in New Zealand. It is the country’s highest suspension bridge, suspended 91 meters above the Shotover River, and forms part of the Heritage New Zealand category 1 historic places listing for Skippers Road. The bridge is also featured on Engineering New Zealand’s Engineering Heritage Register and provides the only access to the 9100-hectare Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve and the historic Skippers Point School. The school, which opened in 1879, is one of the few remaining buildings from the settlement established in Skippers Canyon following the 1862 gold rush.
The Damage and Repair Options
The engineer’s report found that the bridge’s cables have suffered "severe brittle failure" due to stress corrosion cracking, which can result in "a disastrous failure" occurring unexpectedly. The report proposes three options to maintain access: reaffixing the existing above-ground cables into new or extended anchor blocks, replacing the cables, or abandoning the existing bridge and constructing a new, shorter, lower pedestrian bridge about 300 meters downstream. The repair options are estimated to cost over $1 million, while the new bridge option’s cost is unknown. The report notes that either of the repair bids would require significant resources, including concrete, excavators, and drill rigs, which would need to be flown to the site by helicopter.
Challenges and Considerations
The report highlights several challenges and considerations that need to be taken into account when deciding the fate of the bridge. The 120-year-old towers at either end of the bridge are unlikely to be earthquake-safe, and the timber trusses and deck planks show signs of decay. The report also notes that the site may not be suitable for a replacement bridge, and that a new bridge in the same location may not meet the Building Code. Additionally, the report notes that recent average annual maintenance expenditure on the bridge has been approximately $62,000 per year, and that significantly more maintenance effort will be required immediately and in the next 20 years to keep the bridge open.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has yet to make a decision on the future of the Skippers Bridge. The council will be assessing the proposed options as part of the annual plan process and will consider the costs, challenges, and significance of the bridge when making a decision. The closure of the bridge would have significant impacts on the local community and tourists, and it is essential that the council carefully considers the options and makes an informed decision. The fate of the Skippers Bridge remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the bridge’s historic significance and tourist appeal make it an important part of Queenstown’s heritage, and its future should be carefully considered.
