Thumbs up for bridge

About 20 minutes before the first wheeled vehicle officially crossed the new Matahorua Gorge bridge on SH2 just north of Tutira, young Sebastian Jennings of Hastings did a bit of thunder-stealing.
While officials, including Transport Minister Steven Joyce, went through the speeches and preparations for the ribbon cutting, the 7-year-old, who was staying with his aunty at Mohaka, rode his bike across the bridge in the warm sun.
With an equally warm smile he gave the smooth new bridge, part of the $26 million Matahorua Gorge realignment, the thumbs up.
As did locals, transport agencies and police representatives, and members of the trucking industry which had long been frustrated by delays caused by the old narrow and slip-prone stretch through the Matahorua region.
The project, completed at $4million under budget and on schedule, was one of two major roading works officially opened by Mr Joyce yesterday, the other being the Hawke's Bay Expressway southern extension.
The Matahorua opening was his first official duty outside of Christchurch, which he had visited four times in the wake of the February 22 earthquake, and he asked the 100-strong gathering to sit for a moment's silence in tribute to the city.
"Eighteen months ago I stood on a nearby hill where we carried out the turning of the first sod. I remember it was so peaceful, and what struck me was the great partnerships that were in place. I knew then this would go well."
He said as well as assisting the local economies of Napier, Wairoa and Gisborne, through better transport movements, it would also mean additional safety for motorists, as well as saving time.
One local said in 1950 most of the road to Wairoa was metal and it took two hours and 45 minutes to drive there from Napier.
"This is just remarkable," he said.
After the ceremony Mr Joyce headed south to open the final piece of the Hawke's Bay expressway, the southern extension between York Road and Maraekakaho Road.
Both projects were accelerated by about 12 months as part of the National Government's jobs and growth plan during the recession.
The route extended the arterial route between Napier port and airport and Central Hawke's Bay, which was one of the 10 most important routes in the country, he said.
"The longer term benefit is unlocking the region with a strong, reliable and safe link to the port," Mr Joyce said.
Tukituki MP Craig Foss said he worked on the extension for an afternoon with Higgins Contracting so felt he owned a little bit of the new road. "With this and the Matahorua Gorge opening, the launch platform for the Bay has gotten a bit stronger," he said.
Hastings deputy mayor Cynthia Bowers said there were clear health and safety benefits for the region.
"It removes a dangerous bottleneck and York Road and Maraekakaho intersection, which has always been an accident blackspot," she said. "It will also remove much of the heavy traffic from our urban roads."