Twisty quake bridge gone
The buckled footbridge in Christchurch's red zone was removed today.
The twisty bridge in Christchurch’s red zone was removed today.
The Medway St footbridge on Avonside Drive will now be taken to Ferrymead Heritage Park, where it will be stored and may later be used as a memorial to the earthquakes.
It stood as a testimony to the power of the quakes that ravaged the region during 2011.
They caused lateral spread and riverbanks that squashed structures like bridges.
Many residents wanted the bridge to remain where it is as a memorial.
But others want to wipe out such memories and see the removal of the bridge as a milestone to recovery.
They have an ally in the risk-averse city council which prioritised funding to remove the footbridge – but beware the potholes and roller coaster rises in footpaths and roads in the east of the city that pose risk to the unwary.
The council cites an online survey as justification for the bridge's removal.
Chris Hutching
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
Tue, 12 Feb 2013
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Twisty quake bridge gone
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