Case Study: Kaitoke Swing Bridge

Greater Wellington Regional Council: Design plan review of popular swing bridge  

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Organisation: Greater Wellington Regional Council
Annual visitors: 140,000
Be. programme: Design plan review

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The background

• Only 45 minutes north of Wellington City, the spectacular Kaitoke Regional Park covers 2860 hectares in the Tararua Ranges foothills.
• In 2019, the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) contacted Be. to review the design plans for the replacement of an old swing bridge across the Hutt River in the park.
• Crossing the bridge takes you to a stunning rainforest which is the filming site for Rivendell in Lord of The Rings.
• The bridge had become no longer fit for purpose and needed replacing, which created an opportunity to incorporate accessibility into the design of the new bridge.
• The old bridge wasn’t wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, prams, or the popularity of the track - on busy days, people had to queue to get across.
• The rangers had been inspired to see how they could improve accessibility in the regional parks after attending an accessibility conference in Wellington.

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The goal

• The goal was to ensure the bridge was as accessible as possible, not only allowing people with disabilities and access needs to experience the beauty of Kaitoke Regional Park, but enhancing the overall experience for everyone.

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The approach

• Be. Coach Genevieve McLachlan and the Be. Design Plan team conducted a review of the design plan for the new bridge and made recommendations for improvement.
• Genevieve also researched other existing structures and believes an accessible suspension bridge of this scale to be the first of its kind in New Zealand.
• Further to widening the bridge, the accessibility recommendations from Be. that were implemented into the final design were two-colour contrasted handrails and the levelling and sealing of the car park entrance and loop track exit.

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The outcome

• The new bridge was officially opened to the public on 4th August 2021.
• The bridge is now fully accessible to those with disabilities and access needs, accommodating wheelchairs, mobility equipment and prams – there are no longer queues to get across!

• Once the bridge was officially opened, Genevieve was delighted to be invited by GWRC to be one of the first people to cross it.

“For me, being the first person in a wheelchair to cross was quite emotional. Being able to get into the rain forest on the other side was amazing, as it was previously inaccessible to those who were unable to walk.”  

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The future

• Genevieve has road tested the loop track on the other side of the bridge, and work to raise the accessibility standard on the track is in the pipeline.
• Be. have recently reviewed the GWRC’s four office environments and are providing accessibility advice on the upgrade of the Baring Head Lighthouse accommodation.

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“Working with Be. Lab has been excellent. They provided practical advice that was essential to getting our design right, ensuring the bridge is safe and easy to use for more visitors than ever.”    

-         Al Cross, General Manager of Environment, Greater Wellington Regional Council

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