New Clutha swing bridge proposed

UPPER Clutha residents have been asked for their thoughts on a proposal to build a swing bridge for walkers and cyclists across the Clutha River.

The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust is asking for feedback on a possible swing bridge just downstream from the river’s Lake Wanaka outlet.

Depending on its exact location, the bridge would have to be between 100m and 140m long.

The bridge would reduce the cycling and walking distance between Dublin Bay and the Wanaka CBD to about 11.5km, cutting 7.5km from the journey.

It would provide easier access to the Deans Banks mountain bike track network and create a 7.5km loop track to Albert Town on both sides of the Clutha River.

The trust is also exploring creating a new Great Ride between Wanaka and Cromwell as part of a plan to link the Great Rides (national cycleways) in Otago and the new swing bridge could form part of this.

Trust spokesman and trustee John Wellington said the swing bridge idea had been raised to gauge public opinion and no money had yet been set aside for construction.

‘‘We have to think about how the Great Ride link between Albert Town and Wanaka will work and just bluesky thinking one of the possibilities could include a new bridge over the Clutha.’’

There has been a mixed response to the proposal from visitors to the trust’s Facebook page, with some people questioning whether money would be better spent upgrading the cycle path on the Albert Town bridge and upgrading other sections of the track network.

Others support the idea, saying making it easier for riders to access the Deans Bank track network and Dublin Bay was a great idea.

Mr Wellington said the trust always expected there to be a mixed response to the idea and not everyone would be pleased with the plan.

‘‘There is no agenda to build a bridge come what may — we’re just putting the idea out there to judge if the public do think it’s a good idea or not.’’