August 26, 2022
New Mangere bridge connects communities
The old Mangere Bridge will reopen tomorrow after a $38 million rebuild.
The walking and cycling bridge renamed Ngā Hau Māngere by mana whenua also includes seats and two fishing bays.
The ribbon will be cut at about 11 am tomorrow by Ministers Michael Wood and Willie Jackson, who live on either side of the bridge.
James Papali’i from the Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club says its then time for waka ama to reclaim the space, passing under the bridge for the start of a 10 kilometre race.
He says it means the unsafe walkway under the motorway bridge can be closed.
“So that bridge is going to be pretty much the only access way through walking between Onehunga and Mangere Bridge but it is a beautiful bridge and we can do fishing and roller skating and biking and all that sort of stuff so it is a really good taonga for Onehunga and Mangere,” he says.
The bridge was closed in 2018 because of safety concerns.