The document summarizes the history of the Motueka Bridge in Riwaka, New Zealand. Before the first bridge was built in 1878, residents used a ferry operated by Adolphus Dodson. The first bridge was destroyed in a flood in 1922 and replaced in 1925, but that bridge partially collapsed in 1929 after being crossed by a bus. The current bridge is 330 meters long and 5.5 meters wide, with a separate cycle lane added recently, and can accommodate two trucks side by side.

1. Discover Riwaka

2. The quickest way to get to Riwaka is across the Motueka Bridge.

3. Take a look Check out all our information about the Motueka bridge.

4. Motueka Bridge History

5. Before the Motueka bridge was built people used Adolphus Dodson’s ferry boat. He lived on the corner of Main Road Riwaka in Lodder lane. Whenever anyone needed to get to the other side they would ring a large bell located on both sides of the river. Two people drowned by attempting to cross the river by foot.

6. Sometimes people used a horse to cross the river like a vehicle. The first Motueka bridge was built in 1878. The government gave a sum of money for the purpose of building a new bridge. The site where the bridge was going to be built was surveyed and some piles were driven into the river. Crossing the river

7. The first Motueka bridge was destroyed in 1922 by a huge flood. Then the second bridge was built in 1925. The second bridge partly collapsed in 1929 due to a bus driver crossing the bridge .Then they rebuilt the Riwaka end sometime later. When they rebuilt it they concreted the whole thing so it didn’t collapse again.

9. The bridge that we have now is 330 metres length and 5.5 metres width not including the cycle lane which was built about 5 years ago. Two trucks that are about 2.2 metres wide can cross at the same time.

11. All of our information was supplied by the Tasman District Council and Jenny Askew from the Motueka Museum . So a big thank you to them and we hope you enjoyed our slide. By Dantelle, Rosetta, Francesca and Brooke from Riwaka School.