Whitiora Bridge

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}

{{Infobox bridge|bridge_name=Whitiora Bridge|native_name=|native_name_lang=|image=File:Whitiora Bridge, Boundary Rd, Hamilton.jpg|image_size=|alt=|caption=2012 view from riverside walkway|official_name=|other_name=|carries=Motor vehicles|crosses=Waikato River|locale=|owner=Hamilton City Council|maint=|id=|designer=|engineering=|design=|material=|length={{convert|260|m|ft}}|width=|height={{convert|28|m|ft}}|mainspan=|spans=45, 53, 64, 53, 45 m|pierswater=|load=|clearance=|below=|life=|builder=Rope Construction Ltd|fabricator=|begin=1975|complete=1978|open=|inaugurated=|toll=|traffic=2000 19,090
2005 21,750
2010 22,500
2015 25,200
2020 24,000
2021 25,200
2022 23,100{{Cite web |title=Hamilton City Traffic Counts |url=https://data-waikatolass.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/hcc::hamilton-city-traffic-counts/explore?location=-37.777497,175.277594,17.00 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=data-waikatolass.opendata.arcgis.com |language=en}}|preceded=Claudelands Bridge|followed=Fairfield Bridge|heritage=|collapsed=|closed=|map_cue=|map_image=|map_alt=|map_text=|map_width=|coordinates={{coord|37|46|35.6|S|175|16|37.9|E|region:NZ_type:landmark|display=inline, title}}|extra=}}

Whitiora Bridge is a prestressed concrete box girder bridge in Hamilton, New Zealand, spanning the Waikato River. It cost $2.35m, or $3.4m including the approach roads,{{Cite web|url=http://hamilton.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1381#idx2779|title=Centenary celebrations : 100 years of local government 1878–1978|website=Hamilton|access-date=5 July 2017}} and was opened at the start of a weekend of Centennial celebrations,{{Cite web|url=http://hamilton.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1381#idx2755|title=Centenary celebrations : 100 years of local government 1878–1978|website=Hamilton|access-date=5 July 2017}} on 11 February 1978, by representatives of Māori, Government and City, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Venn Young and Ross Jansen.{{Cite web|url=https://heritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/objects/1201/opening-of-the-whitiora-bridge|title=Opening of the Whitiora Bridge|website=Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}

Whitiora Bridge was also a name once used for the Victoria St bridge over the Waitawhiriwhiri Stream, just to the north in Whitiora.{{Cite web|title=No. 1 Bridge|url=https://heritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/objects/572/no-1-bridge|website=Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online|language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}

A 1931 study looked at four possible bridges between the current Whitiora and Claudelands bridges, ranging in length from {{Convert|430|ft||abbr=on}} to {{Convert|540|ft||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19310917.2.15|title=NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE. WAIKATO TIMES|last=|first=|date=17 Sep 1931|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-19}} The plans were shelved in 1933 when it was agreed to contribute 25% of the Fairfield Bridge cost.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19330406.2.107|title=THE NEW BRIDGE. WAIKATO TIMES|last=|first=|date=6 Apr 1933|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-19}}

The 1969 Hamilton Transportation Study proposed the bridge,{{Cite web|url=http://hamilton.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1381#idx2775|title=Centenary celebrations : 100 years of local government 1878–1978|website=Hamilton|access-date=5 July 2017}} which was designed by Murray North Partners (who also designed Pukete sewer bridge and Rangiriri bridge) and built by Rope Construction Ltd{{Cite web|url=http://www.acenz.org.nz/uploads/Awards/Magazines/2015%20INNOVATE%20Magazine-FINAL-Revised%20in%202016%20including%20covers.pdf|title=Innovate NZTM Awards of Excellence, 1965 – 2015: 1978 – Whitiora Bridge, Hamilton by Murray-North Partners Limited|date=2015|website=Association of Consulting and Engineering Professionals in New Zealand (ACENZ)}} (who also built Rakaia Bridge). It is on Taupō pumice alluvium{{Cite web|url=http://www.gns.cri.nz/static/qmapdata/newmaps/QWaikato.zip|title=Geology of the Waikato Area 1:250 000 geological map 4|last=EDBROOKE|first=S. W.|website=Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences}} and carries Boundary Rd at a 25 degree skew over the river and River Rd. At {{Convert|260|m|abbr=on}}, that makes it significantly longer than {{Convert|133|m|abbr=on}} Claudelands, or {{Convert|139|m|abbr=on}} Fairfield, but the alignment minimised tree damage and lined up with a new extension of Boundary Rd from Mill St/Ulster St. The east end of Boundary Rd was shown on the 1879 map of Claudelands,{{Cite web|url=http://digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz/nzc/map/015.html|title=University of Waikato Library – Historical Maps Collection|last=Collection|first=The New Zealand|website=digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz|access-date=16 June 2017}} In 1915 there was a complaint about its lack of drainage{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19150726.2.50.1|title=CLAUDELANDS STREETS. (Waikato Times, 1915-07-26)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=16 June 2017}} and, in 1933, Jesmond Park was laid out at its river end, later crossed by the bridge.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19331004.2.24|title=HAMILTON BOROUGH (New Zealand Herald, 1933-10-04)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=16 June 2017}}

The bridge rests on four {{Convert|1.8|m|abbr=on}} diameter octagonal piers, sunk {{convert|30|m}} below the river,{{Cite web |url= http://hamilton.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1381#idx2777|title=Centenary celebrations : 100 years of local government 1878–1978|website=Hamilton|access-date=5 July 2017}} which are slightly narrower than the 5 spans of box girders. Sliding hinge joints in the landward spans give earthquake protection. Hydraulic shock transmission at the expansion joints will keep the sections of the bridge together in an earthquake.

File:Whitiora_Bridge_-_2_traffic_lanes,_cycle_tracks_and_a_footpath_were_converted_to_3_traffic_lanes_and_a_footpath_in_2006.jpg

Cycle Action Waikato complained in 2014, after the 2 traffic lanes, cycle tracks and footpath were converted to 3 traffic lanes and a footpath{{Cite web|url=https://can.org.nz/system/files/River%20Plan%20-%20Nov%202014.pdf|title=HCC draft River Plan feedback – Cycle Action Waikato|date=November 2014|website=Hamilton City Council}} in 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-council/council-publications/10yearplan/Documents/summary%20of%20main%20issues%20raised%200919.pdf|title=HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL'S PROPOSED 2009–19 LTCCP Summary of the Main Issues Raised in Submissions|website=Hamilton City Council}} The City's 1972 design brief, required up to 4 traffic lanes. The bridge carries about 200 cyclists a day and a clip-on cycle lane has been considered, with $1m budgeted for 2028.{{Cite web|title=Elected Member Briefing|url=https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/AgendasAndMinutes/Elected%20Member%20Briefing%20Topic%20List%20%20and%20Presentations%20-%2019%20February%202020.pdf|last=|first=|date=19 February 2020|website=Hamilton City Council|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}

During its design and construction the bridge was known as the Boundary Road Bridge and is still often referred to as such.{{Cite web|url=http://hamiltonheritagecollections.co.nz/nodes/view/1229|title=Whitiora Bridge|website=Hamilton|access-date=16 June 2017}} 'Whitiora' was selected from a public suggestion, derived from 'Whiti', the call of the pipiwharauroa, and 'ora', meaning life, or health.{{Cite web|url=http://hamilton.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1381#idx2773|title=Centenary celebrations : 100 years of local government 1878–1978|website=Hamilton|access-date=5 July 2017}}

[http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-city/parks/parksandgardens/Documents/Miropiko%20Reserve%20-%20Reserves%20Act%20Management%20Plan%20-%20Operative%20-%20April%202001.pdf Miropiko pā], beside River Rd, just south of the bridge, is the best preserved of a number of Hamilton pā sites.{{Cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-8|title=8. – Waikato places – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|website=www.teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=16 June 2017}}