24 October 2023:

A cycle and walking path across the historic Awatere Bridge will extend the Whale Trail from Blenheim to Seddon by Christmas. Fulton Hogan is converting the 100-year-old rail and vehicle bridge just north of Seddon to a combined rail and cycleway/walkway, on behalf of the Whale Trail Trust. It is another milestone in the 204km Whale Trail that will eventually link Blenheim and Kaikoura.

Shown here beside the historic bridge is Fulton Hogan Civil Manager, Cody Hampton; Fulton Hogan Regional Manager Lourens van der Vyver, Whale Trail Trust Chair Luke van Velthooven and Whale Trail Engineer Ian Bond.

The Awatere is the second bridge Fulton Hogan has modified for the Whale Trail, after adding a clip-on cycle and walkway over the Wairau River in 2022.

Fulton Hogan Civil Project Manager, Cody Hampton, says it’s a treat to work on such an historic bridge, with jaw-dropping views up the Awatere Valley to the mountains.

“We’re helping create a community asset to share with people from around New Zealand and the world,” he says.

Whale Trail Project Manager, Nigel Muir, says the restored bridge will be a source of pride for the community, describing it as a “significant taonga on the trail”.