Waiho Bridge reopens after being rebuilt in 18 days

WANAKA: The Waiho Bridge near Franz Josef reopened at noon on Saturday after being out of action for two and ahalf weeks after the old bridge was washed away in flooding.

The NZ Transport Agency built the new bridge in 18 days.

Vehicles started driving across the bridge at noon and about 300 of them had already queued up on either side awaiting the signal.

A Maori blessing took place as part of a ceremony on Saturday morning and the crowd were then allowed to walk across the bridge, which is just south of Franz Josef.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith said thousands of people gathered to watch the opening and walk across the bridge and locals were delighted to have bridge access again.

‘‘The tourism sector, which is a big part of our economy — it’s equal to dairy — it’s been really impacted, but the door’s open, the bridge is open and there is a row of cars that I can see which stretches from here all the way through the Franz community.’’

Mr Smith said he could not be happier.

‘‘It’s a huge day for Fox friends, for Haast, for Hokitika.’’ West Coast MP Damien O’Connor tweeted his thanks to the NZTA, Defence Force and ‘‘a patient community’’.

The reopening of Waiho Bridge has restored direct road access between Franz Josef and Fox Glacier on SH6.

But the NZTA has warned people should be prepared for a slightly slower journey for the next few weeks.

There was still some work to do on the bridge such as sealing the approaches and reinstating the guardrail and the pedestrian walkway which would involve closures of up to an hour, it said.