345:. Virgin forest was cleared, and a total of 35 holdings developed. A school was opened, and for some years the valley prospered. However economic hardship, and problems associated with the remoteness and difficulty of access, resulted in many families abandoning their farms. By 1942 there were only 3 families left. After a major flood in January 1942 the Government declined to make further funds available for road maintenance, and it officially closed the valley in May 1942. The disappearing road line, old fence lines, stands of exotic trees, occasional brick chimneys, and this bridge serve as reminders of the ill fated settlement of the Mangapurua valley
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294:, New Zealand. It has no roads leading to it, but it is a popular tourist attraction, accessible by mountain bike or tramping on a variety of different tracks, or by boat or kayak, followed by a 45-minute (one way) walk along maintained bush trails.
333:, and cartage of all materials (via the Mangapurua Valley road) cost 419 pounds 14 shillings. Unfortunately the cost of materials was not recorded. Aggregate for the concrete is said to have been transported from the
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337:. The completion of the bridge was delayed considerably due to floods, slips, and the consequent delay in the supply of materials. The bridge was built to facilitate vehicular access to the
305:. The intention was to build roads to it later, but the area proved to be so remote and unsuitable for farming that the venture failed and the farms reverted to native bush.
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to provide access to an area where the government was opening up land in 1917 for pioneering farmers, mainly soldiers who had returned from
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321:. It is 130 feet long, and 125 feet above the stream. The cost of labour was 598
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Started in
January 1935 and completed in June 1936, this bridge was built by the
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Heritage New
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505:. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
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is a concrete road bridge spanning the
Mangapurua Stream in
522:- Mangapurua/Kaiwhakauka valleys (access information)
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68:Learn how and when to remove this message
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477:"Mangapurua Bridge "Bridge to Nowhere""
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783:Whanganui National Park
778:Tongariro National Park
319:Public Works Department
288:Whanganui National Park
240:Public Works Department
217:40 metres (130 ft)
167:Whanganui National Park
762:Manganui o te Ao River
369:Bridges in New Zealand
867:Waiau Toa / Clarence
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479:. historic.org.nz.
455:"Bridge To Nowhere"
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606:Whanganui District
413:. nzhistory.net.nz
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31:This article
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393:. Retrieved
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292:North Island
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259:January 1935
222:Longest span
171:North Island
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742:Åhura River
584:Flows into:
343:World War I
303:World War I
209:Single lane
190:Arch bridge
175:New Zealand
131: /
106:Coordinates
906:Categories
885:Rangitaiki
849:Rangitīkei
718:confluence
702:Upokongaro
642:Taumarunui
587:Tasman Sea
375:References
357:Mangapūrua
147:Footbridge
42:improve it
837:Whanganui
707:Whanganui
697:Kaiwhaiki
667:Jerusalem
647:Whakahoro
363:See also
327:shillings
267:June 1936
58:June 2013
46:verifying
891:Manawatū
805:Waimarie
692:Parikino
682:Koriniti
677:Matahiwi
662:Pipiriki
487:27 April
481:Archived
461:16 March
439:16 March
417:16 March
395:16 March
272:Location
235:Designer
200:Concrete
196:Material
873:Waitaki
855:Mataura
825:Waikato
652:Parinui
637:Manunui
632:Piriaka
577:Source:
315:Raetihi
230:History
152:Crosses
144:Carries
40:Please
843:Taieri
672:Ranana
627:Kakahi
323:pounds
214:Height
186:Design
162:Locale
879:Åreti
861:Waiau
687:Ätene
331:pence
206:Width
889:12:
883:11:
877:10:
489:2020
463:2014
441:2014
419:2014
397:2014
282:The
238:The
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