Grandson to tell the story of the Bridge to Nowhere

The construction of the Bridge to Nowhere in the mid-1930s. Photo/ Sandford Family Library

The Bridge to Nowhere is one of the more unique attractions in the Whanganui National Park.

And the grandson of one of its builders will be in Raetihi on Saturday to tell its story.

Friends of the Mangapurua have been running talks on the area and the next in the series is by John Sanford.

His grandfather, Bert Sandford, was a partner in the Brown and Sandford firm which built the bridge in the mid-1930s.

"They made a beautiful job of it and it is now a focal point for folks coming to the valley," Friends of the Mangapurua chairman Graham West said.

The concrete bridge was built to provide road access to the lower and middle valley farms known as the Mangapurua Valley Soldiers Settlement.

"The long term plan was to build a road westward from that part of New Zealand across the Whanganui River and out to Taranaki," Mr West said.

But shortly after completion the Mangapurua area was abandoned and so was the need for the bridge.

"Many people said there was only ever one car drive across it but that's not true. It was used for a short period."

Mr West said the Bridge to Nowhere was a must see for tourists in the area.

"You're walking along a track that's about a metre wide then suddenly out of the bush comes this bridge. It's quite striking and out of place."

*John Sanford's talk on the construction of the Bridge to Nowhere is on Saturday, October 28 at the Raetihi Cosmopolitan Club from 1.30pm.