New Zealand's Bridges: Pages Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.509 Degrees, 172.721 Degrees) Pages Road Bridge

The next structure downstream is the Wainoni Bridge, but I never took a photo of it. The next bridge after that is Pages Road Bridge, a continuous three span haunched T-girder structure on pier walls that was built in 1951. This bridge had moderate damage from both the September 2010 and the February 2011 earthquakes. It has long embankments supported by stone retaining walls that were cracked due to soil movement during the earthquakes. Despite the earthquake damage the bridge remains a dignified structure with its open bannister barrier rails and tapered light poles.

New Zealand's Bridges: Pages Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: ANZAC Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch (2)

March 2011 (-43.501 Degrees, 172.701 Degrees) ANZAC Bridge

The ANZAC Bridge has a 3-span voided slab superstructure on 4 column bents. It was built in 2000 and has a precast superstructure, precast bent caps, and precast columns. That makes it a very innovative design. However, the seismic design isn't easy to understand. It appears that the bridge was meant to survive the earthquake through brute strength. There are no dampers or plastic hinges designed to limit the seismic force. Moreover, the columns are too big to be damaged and so most of the damage was due to shear at the bent caps or at the column to bent cap connections. Bridges are supposed to be weaker in flexure than in shear to avoid catastrophic collapse in case the earthquake force is larger than expected. 

New Zealand's Bridges: ANZAC Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch (2) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: ANZAC Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch (1)

March 2011 (-43.501 Degrees, 172.701 Degrees) ANZAC Bridge

We are nearing the end of the Avon River and its beginning to suggest the salt water environment that it will become a few miles downstream. This is another ANZAC Bridge, dedicated to the many soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who bravely laid down their lives during WWI. New Zealand seems like a place where patriotism and religion are still very important. Also sports and meat pies.

The ANZAC Bridge was one of the newest bridges on the Avon and also one of the most damaged during the recent earthquakes. It's a totally precast structure and so the bridge has some of the seismic problems that we are currently trying to solve in California: how to design a precast bridge with super strong connections and predetermined locations where damage can occur. This is a problem that Park and Pauley at the University of Canterbury worked on in the 1980s. Of course, this bridge is still standing, which is good, but the damage suggests that it might have failed in shear had the earthquake been a little bigger. We'll take a closer look at it tomorrow.

New Zealand's Bridges: ANZAC Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch (1) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Avondale Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.500 Degrees, 172.688 Degrees) Avondale Bridge

The next road bridge is several miles further downstream. The Avondale Bridge was built in 1962 with a precast voided slab superstructure on three column bents and seat-type abutments. A water main carried by this bridge broke during the earthquake washing out the embankment and so they are beginning to roll out an inflatable cofferdam on the opposite bank to repair the abutment.

New Zealand's Bridges: Avondale Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Dallington Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.518 Degrees, 172.677 Degrees) Dallington Bridge

This is a combined utility and pedestrian bridge. It's composed of two reinforced concrete arch ribs supporting a concrete deck. During the September 2010 earthquake the two banks moved a little closer together and during the February 2011 earthquake the banks moved much closer together. This raised the bridge and caused flexural damage at the top.

New Zealand's Bridges: Dallington Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Gayhurst Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.522 Degrees, 172.673 Degrees) Gayhurst Road Bridge

Continuing downstream past another bow in the river, the Avon is now wide enough to be crossed by a three span slab bridge on pier walls (built in 1954). We are east of the CBD, east of those 19th century ornamented bridges, and into an area of soil that was highly liquefied by the February earthquake. The piers on the Gayhurst Road Bridge have horizontal cracks due to intense shaking and lateral spreading. However, these cracks were not considered serious enough to stop traffic across the bridge (once the approaches were re-graded).

New Zealand's Bridges: Gayhurst Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Avonside Footbridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.515 Degrees, 172.666 Degrees) Avonside Footbridge

The Avonside Footbridge is a three span pony truss on timber piers that was built in 1940. It was damaged (along with several other footbridges) during the Darfield, New Zealand Earthquake in September 2010. It appears that footbridges are more lightly constructed and therefore more vulnerable to ground shaking. I haven't heard about this bridge being repaired, but the people of Christchurch have enough on their hands repairing or replacing all the buildings that were damaged during the February 2011 earthquake.

New Zealand's Bridges: Avonside Footbridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Swanns Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.522 Degrees, 172.660) Swanns Road Bridge

Even the plainest bridge gets a pretty handrail and some dramatic landscaping along the Avon River in Christchurch.

Swanns Road Bridge is a two-span precast slab bridge on a pier wall and seat-type abutments that was built in 1954. The bridge and approaches were severely shaken during the February earthquake. The connections to the piles were damaged. Also, the river appears to have gone down (or perhaps it's just low tide) but the tops of the piles are exposed. 

New Zealand's Bridges: Swanns Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Stanmore Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.525 Degrees, 172.657 Degrees) Stanmore Road Bridge

We've traveled out of the CBD and the river crossings are farther apart. Also the river is wider and the bridges now require a center pier. The Stanmore Road Bridge was built in 1995, but some of the material from earlier bridges were used in its construction. The exterior facade has a hand-finished look which effectively hides the slab superstructure. Like the Fitzgerald Bridges, this structure was damaged by lateral spreading and shaking during the February Earthquake.

New Zealand's Bridges: Stanmore Road Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Fitzgerald Avenue Bridges across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.526 Degrees, 172.651 Degrees) Fitzgerald Avenue Bridges

East of the Barbardoes Street Bridge, the Avon River forms a big ox-bow and at the other end are the two Fitzgerald Avenue Bridges. They are two span, precast voided slab bridges supported on seat-type abutments and with a pier wall in the river. Although it is not apparent in this photo, the riverbanks moved toward the river during the February earthquake, breaking some of the abutment piles.

New Zealand's Bridges: Fitzgerald Street Bridges across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Barbadoes Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.525 Degrees, 172.646 Degrees) Barbadoes Street Bridge

Continuing along the Avon River we come to Barbadoes Street, which runs north and south through the City Center. The street was named after an Anglican Church Diocese in the West Indies. The river crossing is another single span haunched T girder bridge that was built around 1950. I wonder if they built falsework from the two abutments to form these haunched girders? Perhaps the forms were reusable since there are so many of these bridges in Christchurch.

New Zealand's Bridges: Barbadoes Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Kilmore and Madras Street Bridges across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.527 Degrees, 172.643 Degrees) Kilmore and Madras Street Bridges

The Kilmore and Madras Street Bridges are very plain looking single span T girder bridges on seat-type abutments that were built in 1968. The two streets are perpendicuar and so they cross the Avon River at right angles from each other. You can see a few spalls where the superstructure banged against the abutment on the Kilgore Street Bridge during the recent earthquake. I'm not sure why those rusty steel girders are sticking up between the two bridges.

New Zealand's Bridges: Kilmore and Madras Street Bridges across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Manchester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.528 Degrees, 172.640 Degrees) Manchester Street Bridge

This handsome structure is a haunched T-girder bridge supported on end diaphragm abutments. It was built in 1940 and replaced an open spandrel deck arch. Note the quaywall along the river is much older and probably dates back to the original bridge. The bridges along this stretch of the Avon River are about as long (about 60 ft) as they are wide.

New Zealand's Bridges: Manchester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Colombo Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.527 Degrees, 172.637 Degrees) Colombo Street Bridge

The Colombo Street Bridge was built in 1902 with cast iron girders and a timber deck. Over the years the bridge was widened and the timber deck was replaced with concrete. More information about this bridge is available from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

One item of interest is the facade that was built to make the bridge look like an arch. During the February earthquake this facade buckled without affecting the strength of the straight girders that actually support the bridge.

New Zealand's Bridges: Colombo Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

California's Bridges: Mulholland Drive Overcrossing across I-405 in Los Angeles

Goodbye to a beautiful bridge in a beautiful location.

New Zealand's Bridges: Victoria Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.528 Degrees, 172.635 Degrees) Victoria Bridge

The Victoria Bridge was constructed in 1864, widened several times, and when Victoria Square was closed to traffic, the center of the bridge was removed, exposing the cast iron girders. More information on this bridge is available at the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Website.

New Zealand's Bridges: Victoria Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Armagh Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.529 Degrees, 172.634 Degrees) Armagh Street Bridge

The Armagh Street Bridge is another reinforced concrete arch bridge (with a stone facing and a cast iron railing) located in Christchurch's Central Business District. There is a stone plaque on one of the abutment pedestals engraved with the name of the mayor and the date the bridge was built (1883). A tape hanging from the railing closed the bridge after the earthquake.

New Zealand's Bridges: Armagh Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Gloucester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.530 Degrees, 172.634 Degrees) Gloucester Street Bridge

We must be in the original area that was Christchurch because the bridges are very old. According to the Christchurch Library Archives, the abutments on the Gloucester Street Bridge were carved from Oamaru, a local stone. The girders were made of a combination of cast and wrought iron. According to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1937 the bridge was widened and the original stone abutments and wingwalls were replaced with concrete.

New Zealand's Bridges: Gloucester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Worcester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.531 Degrees, 172.633 Degrees) Worcester Street Bridge

The Worcester Street Bridge is a single span reinforced concrete arch bridge with stone facing and a cast iron railing. There are pedestals at the four corners, one of which holds a plaque that states the bridge was commissioned by Mayor C. P. Hulbert in 1885.  The bridge has a wide brick deck that carries pedestrians and a tram along with benches and pots of flowers along the railings.

New Zealand's Bridges: Worcester Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Hereford Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.532 Degrees, 172.633 Degrees) Hereford Street Bridge

Continuing downstream another couple of hundred feet we reach the Hereford Street Bridge. We are now in the City Center and the Avon River is crossed by many bridges. The river is less than two hundred feet wide, but it will continue to widen as we approach the Pacific. These single span, haunched 'T' girder bridges are a good choice for a two hundred foot span. 

The Hereford Street Bridge was built in 1938 and has Art Deco details. There are pedestals at the abutments that support attractive lampposts. Winglike details extend from the abutments along the exterior girders. There are highly decorative railings. A brief Christchurch Libraries Article (online) provides photos of the new and old bridges and calls the current bridge a new type of structure: a 'rigid frame' or 'square arch.'

New Zealand's Bridges: Hereford Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Bridge of Remembrance across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.533 Degrees, 172.633 Degrees) Bridge of Remembrance

Continuing downstream along the Avon River is the Bridge of Remembrance, which was built to honor the many soldiers who were killed during the first World War. Although I can appreciate wanting to commemorate the young men that gave everything for their country, there is something a little creepy about these structures. The wreaths, lions, and symbolic archways just don't have the same meaning today. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC (a wall with all the soldiers names on it) is more comforting as a monument to sacrifice and loss. It's like Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. You just want to state as plainly as possible what happened without drawing attention to yourself.

New Zealand's Bridges: Bridge of Remembrance across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Montreal Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.535 Degrees, 172.631 Degrees) Montreal Street Bridge

The Montreal Street Bridge is a single span haunched 'T' girder bridge with tapered abutments and short wingwalls. Christchurch must have been growing through the 1960s when this and several other Avon River Crossings were built.

New Zealand's Bridges: Montreal Street Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Hospital Footbridge over the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.534 Degrees, 172.628 Degrees) Hospital Bridge

A photo of the Hospital Bridge that was taken in 1912 is available online at the Christchurch Library Archives. It looks very similar to the current Hospital Footbridge, except for the deck and railing. Perhaps they were able to reuse the existing steel truss arch and just replace the deck.

New Zealand's Bridges: Hospital Footbridge over the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Botanical Gardens Bridge over the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-45.533 Degrees, 172.627 Degrees) Botanical Gardens Bridge

This is a single span 'T' girder bridge on seat-type abutments and with interesting supports for the sidewalks and railings. I didn't see a date on it, but it has the 'high tech' look of the 1980s. I'm calling it the Botanical Gardens Bridge even though it goes straight to the hospital because the next bridge is called the Hospital Bridge.

New Zealand's Bridges: Botanical Gardens Bridge over the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Carlton Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011(-43.521 Degrees, 172.265 Degrees) Carlton Bridge

Continuing east along the Avon River, I photographed the Fendalton Bridge and what I called the Little Hagley Footbridge, but these one span bridges are beginning to look the same. I think New Zealand's South Island and Christchurch are too far from expressways and innovative bridge design. Of course, two of the great innovators on concrete design were Park and Pauley at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, but these bridges were build before their careers had started.

The Avon River makes a very tight backward 'S' curve which forms the north and east boundaries of Hagley Golf Course and the western boundary of Christchurch's CBD. The Carlton Bridge crosses over the Avon River at the northeast corner of Hagley Park and is one of the main entrances into the CBD. It's a single span reinforced concrete deck arch bridge with diaphragm abutments and concrete 'arch-shaped' T girders (or are they haunched girders?).

A placard on the exterior girder says that the bridge was erected by the Christchurch City Council in 1929. I noticed there is a 20 page report about the bridge written by Walter Gordon Morrison, but there is a $30 fee to read it (from the ICE library). There's also some photos from the 1930s on the Internet showing the bridge looking very much as it does today.

New Zealand's Bridges: Carlton Bridge across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Zealand's Bridges: Bridges to the LDS Church across the Avon River in Christchurch

March 2011 (-43.522 Degrees, 172.611) LDS Church Bridges

I've been continuing on a walk east through earthquake-damaged Christchurch, New Zealand. The City of Christchurch is a devout religious community with a hundred churches and hundreds of bridges. 

You can see as we continue to move eastward, there are more barricades, more backhoes, and more bridges that are a little damaged but still standing (it takes a lot of damage to close a bridge).

The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints (LDS) is on an island in the Avon River with two bridges. The first bridge is on steel girders and has a pretty white railing. The second bridge has a black steel railing and it crosses the river just downstream of a weir. 

New Zealand's Bridges: Bridges to the LDS Church across the Avon River in Christchurch by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.