New bridge doesn't have a name … yet

Monday, 13 August 2018

The century-old Ōpaoa bridge in Blenheim, nicknamed the Banana Bridge, will have a new bridge running beside it by mid 2020.

In a post-Boaty McBoatface era, asking people to name anything can be fraught with disparaging danger.

Having said that, work on a new bridge in Blenheim is due to start next month, and it doesn't have a name.

The Bananas in Pyjamas team made an appearance at the Wellington Christmas Parade in 2015.

Given the old bridge already has the nickname, the 'Banana Bridge', Stuff's very unofficial name search last week was sure to throw up a few crackers.

Liz Broughton said the new bridge should be called 'B2', and the old one 'B1', after the Bananas In Pyjamas characters.

* Funding secured to replace century-old bridge no longer fit-for-purpose

The Natural Environment Research Council ran a public poll in 2016 to name its new polar research ship, with Boaty McBoatface the runaway winner.

* Approved, not approved: Blenheim bridge plans stall as project becomes 'subject to funding approval'**

'That way we'll have B1, the old banana bridge, and B2, the new one,' she said.

A mock-up of the new two-lane bridge with the old 'banana' bridge to the left as drivers approach from Picton.

Former construction worker Tom Nesbitt said the new bridge should be called 'About Time'.

'Because it's about time it was built,' Nesbitt said. 'They've been talking about building that bridge for almost 40 years, so it's been a long-time coming.'

Meaters of Marlborough employee Liz Broughton says the new bridge should be called 'B2', after the Bananas In Pyjamas character.

Barbara Ballantyne agreed, and said it should be called 'The Golden Bridge', as it was 'something we've been looking forward to for a long time'.

The new bridge was proposed following an investigation carried out by the NZ Transport Agency in 2015 into the suitability of the Wairau and Ōpaoa bridges.

Blenheim resident George Smith says the new bridge should be called 'The Anti Bridge', as he supports a bypass.

The Heritage New Zealand category one-listed Ōpaoa Bridge, built in 1917, was confirmed as too narrow for some vehicles, vulnerable in an earthquake and susceptible to damage from heavy floods.

In January 2016, the Government announced its preference to construct a new, two-lane bridge to the western side of the existing structure, which would be kept for cyclists and pedestrians.

Barbara Ballantyne says it should be called 'The Golden Bridge', as it is 'something we've been looking forward to for a long time'.

NZTA budgeted $21 million to cover the cost of construction.

Former construction worker Tom Nesbitt says the new bridge should be called 'About Time'.

A NZTA spokeswoman said the method of naming the bridge had not yet been decided.

'It is too soon to comment on the name of the new bridge over the Ōpaoa River at this stage,' she said.

In 2016, the Natural Environment Research Council ran a public poll to name its new polar research ship, with Boaty McBoatface the runaway winner.

Blenheim resident George Smith said the new bridge should be called 'The Anti Bridge', as he was against the bridge's construction.

'They should have just put a bypass around Blenheim and been done with it,' Smith said. 'This new bridge will encourage more traffic onto Grove Rd.'

The Ōpaoa Bridge, on Grove Rd, or State Highway 1, was a critical transport link between Picton and Christchurch, particularly for freight, and for people in Marlborough to access central Blenheim.

Grove Tavern owner Kellie Kennedy said, because of this, the new bridge should be called 'Grove Rd Bridge'.

'Everyone knows that's Grove Rd, so it makes sense for it to be called Grove Rd Bridge,' Kennedy said.

Work would start next month following a blessing and ground-breaking ceremony with neighbouring residents, iwi and business owners.

Construction was expected to run until mid 2020.