Touted as the longest in New Zealand, the new swing bridge being built in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has been giving everyone a bit of a headache.
Contractors refer to it as "the beast" for its sheer size but also because of the unseasonal bad weather they have had to battle over the past few months.
The bridge will span 189 metres across the Hooker River on the upper section of the popular Hooker Valley Track. It will replace an existing swing bridge which had to be closed in April due to riverbank erosion near the bridge supports.
Construction on the new bridge began in August and since then, Mother Nature has thrown everything at the team working on site.
Ash Rogers, construction supervisor from Abseil Access, says while he's worked on many challenging bridge builds around the Pacific and in New Zealand, including on the Milford Track, this one takes the cake for stress.
"Spring really threw absolutely everything at us, to be honest. We had heavy snow and ridiculously strong winds that blew sheds and equipment down steep banks. Mentally it was tough for the staff working in such extreme conditions. The weather can change many times a day up here. We have our own weather station, and an average day has winds of between 80 and 150 kilometres per hour blowing.
"It's a very special place to work in and sometimes you want to pinch yourself with the view, but there are many times, when the wind gets up and you just pray for calm fine days in a row where we can get the work done without worrying about the elements," he says.
The team have just completed drilling of the main bridge support masts and are now in the process of completing wind-anchor drilling and concrete foundation pours. They hope to start work assembling the bridge cables early next year.
The engineer and architect behind the unique bridge design, Dan Crocker of DC Structures Studio, says getting to design New Zealand's longest span footbridge in one of our most iconic locations was an amazing opportunity.
"It's been designed with state-of-the-art pedestrian vibration and wind dynamics due to the unique location. We wanted a design which was a "light touch" in such a pristine landscape, so that visitors can revel in the experience and thrill of such a large crossing while appreciating the magnitude of the surrounding peaks."
Department of Conservation Aoraki/Mount Cook Operations Manager Sally Jones says it's going to be an exciting next few months seeing the bridge really take shape.
"The new swing bridge will become a destination in its own right for people who love getting out naturing. The design is spectacular, and visitors will find crossing it exhilarating because of the length. The construction team are doing an awesome job, as the past few months have been really full on, weatherwise.
"At this stage, we're hoping to have the bridge open towards the end of Autumn next year. The weather has put things a little behind schedule, but fingers crossed, its settled down, and we can get some calm periods for the construction team," she says.
The Hooker Valley Track is currently open to a viewing platform overlooking Mueller Lake, past the first suspension bridge, while the upper part of the track is closed due to the construction. DOC recently installed security cameras and warned people to stay away from the building site, after some visitors were seen climbing through barrier fences and gates to access the closed part of the track.
"We can't wait to re-open the upper part of the Hooker Track and Hooker Hut next year and celebrate the opening of the longest swing bridge in New Zealand," she says.
Construction supervisor Ash Rogers laughs and says he will most likely be celebrating with a cup of tea and a lie-down, or a much-needed rest, somewhere calm with no wind blowing.
NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE
Nature isn't scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It's behind our identity and our way of life.
