Victoria Bridge, Hamilton

Victoria Bridge (originally known as the Hamilton Traffic Bridge and later also as The Bridge Street Bridge) is a steel arch bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand. The bridge has a Category I heritage protection.

Victoria Bridge
Coordinates37°47′29″S 175°17′24″E
CarriesMotor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians
CrossesWaikato River
Other name(s)Hamilton Traffic Bridge
OwnerHamilton City Council
Preceded byCobham Bridge
Followed byClaudelands Bridge
Characteristics
Longest span103.6 m[1]
No. of spansthree
Piers in waternil
History
DesignerJames Fulton
Constructed byG M Fraser[1]
Construction start1909
Opened1910
Statistics
Daily traffic26,100 (2018)[2]
Location

The bridge has a main arch of 340 ft (100 m) and 4 land spans. Its total length is 500 ft (150 m). The road is 18 ft (5.5 m) wide and the footpath 4.5 ft (1.4 m). It cost £25,500,[3] equivalent to over $4m in 2017.[4] It replaced the 1879 timber Union Bridge.[5]

In 1929 stone steps were built beside the western end of the bridge to link to Ferry Bank.[6]

Location and names

The bridge connects the suburbs of Hamilton Central and Hamilton East. The bridge was designed by James Fulton, and G M Fraser was the contractor. Work erecting the bridge, which was pre-fabricated in England by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company, started in 1909.[1][7]

The road that goes over the bridge has changed names several times. Up until 1930, the road was known as Richmond Street. A commemorative plaque refers to it as Hamilton Road, though. The name changed to Bridge Street. The latest name change happened in November 2015, when the road was officially renamed as Anzac Parade.[8]

Repairs

In 1919 the western king posts needed strengthening. A decade later, the foundations had spread 6 in (150 mm) and the crown of the arch had dropped 12.5 in (320 mm). Over the next 3 years the foundations spread up to a further ⅜in. and the crown settled up to another inch. Also the deck reinforcing was very corroded. 6.5 ton and 10 mph limits were imposed.[3] It was repaired and jacked up in 1937.[9]

Heritage registration

On 30 August 1990, the bridge was registered as a Category I 'Historic Place' with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now known as Heritage New Zealand).[10]

Present day
Maori protest figure

In 2010, the bridge celebrated its 100th year with a party in the park and unveiled a permanent interactive LED lighting system designed to illuminate the bridge for 10–15 years. This project was funded via a donation from the Perry Foundation. The party in the park featured a parade containing people in period costume and classic cars and rides and events for children. The event culminated in the display of a specially commissioned film projected onto a large screen next to the PS Rangiriri, Hamilton's historic paddle steamer in Hamilton East. At the end of the film, the light show was launched. The colour kinetics interactive lighting feature spans the entire structure and took seven days of rigging and many months of planning to install. The bridge is transformed into specific colours at certain times in order to welcome visiting sports teams and to celebrate national or local occasions.

Bronze figures depicting local historical figures have been fixed to the railings since 2010 to celebrate Hamilton's early years and connection to the river. These have faced some controversy as they appear to favour colonial histories to the detriment of the rich indigenous cultural connection to the area, and are a subject of some protest. From time to time "balancing" figures appear, highlighting these apparently missing elements.

References
  1. "Victoria Bridge, Hamilton". Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. Traffic Flow Map 2018
  3. "BRIDGE IN DANGER. (New Zealand Herald, 1932-05-06)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  4. "Inflation Calculator". Reserve Bank of NZ.
  5. "Union Bridge". Hamilton. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. "HAMILTON ADVANCES. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 December 1929. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. "Bridges". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  8. Leaman, Aaron (1 December 2015). "Hamilton's Bridge Street renamed Anzac Parade". Stuff. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  9. "LIFTING A BRIDGE Workmen jacking-up one of the ends of the Hamilton Traffic Bridge during the extensive repairs which are now being carried out. The ends of the bridge had subsided by as much as eight inches. (New Zealand Herald, 1937-11-15)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  10. "Victoria Bridge". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 15 November 2015.

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