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Draft:Ashburton Railway Footbridge

Coordinates: 43°54′07″S 171°45′04″E / 43.902°S 171.751°E / -43.902; 171.751
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Ashburton Railway Footbridge
Map
TypeFootbridge
LocationAshburton, Canterbury
Coordinates43°54′07″S 171°45′04″E / 43.902°S 171.751°E / -43.902; 171.751
Built1917; 108 years ago (1917)[1]
Built forNZR
ArchitectGeorge Alexander Troup
OwnerAshburton District Council[1] KiwiRail[2]
Official nameAshburton Railway Footbridge
Designated1st January 2017
Reference no.7665

The Ashburton Railway Footbridge, constructed in 1917[3] has continuously served the Ashburton community as an active rail crossing for more than a century.

The construction is of cast and rail iron, and Jarrah timber. The main span is a large bowstring truss to allow it to cross of the Main South Line, which passes through the center of Ashburton. Now one of the few remaining structures of the Ashburton Railway Station left.

The Ashburton footbridge is one of only seven remaining string truss bridges left in the country[4]. With an impressive for the time, span of 84 feet (26 m) it is only bet in length by Dunedin's railway footbrige by 13 feet (4.0 m)

In the mid 2000s, ONTRACK, then owner of the railway, had gifted the Railway Footbridge to the Ashburton District Council

Original Footbridge

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The original footbrige was a wooden structure constructed in 1911, providing a crossing at Cameron Street[5]. As part of the construction of the current footbridge in 1917, the wooden structure was relocated to provide a rail crossing at the end of Atkin street[6]

Condition

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The Foot bridge remains open to the public for its intended use of crossing the rail corridor from East to West, but being constructed 108 years ago and with the decline of rail service throughout the late 20th century and cessation of passenger services in 2002; 23 years ago (2002) at Ashburton.

2018 Inspection

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In August 2018[3] a detailed Inspection took place, and found significant conservation work needed.


References

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  1. ^ a b "HNZ Listing". Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  2. ^ "ADC Historical Listing" (PDF). Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b Leask, Jonathan (July 2022). "Finding funds for historic rail footbridge fix up". Stuff. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  4. ^ Stringer, Kathleen (16 December 2018). "Our Overbridge". Ashburton Museum Blog. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Rail footbridge restoration". ADC. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Ashburton News". No. 16118. Press. 24 January 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 23 January 2025.