Kopu Bridge

[2][1][4] As the first available crossing of the Waihou River and the main link between the Hauraki Plains and Coromandel Peninsula, it sees a lot of traffic, especially during holidays.

[2][1] It replaced the barges and ferries which had until then served to cross the Waihou River, connected Thames to the newly drained dairy farming grounds of the Hauraki Plains,[2] and was reckoned to have made a big difference to the local district,[8] having marked the local shift from river transport to road transport becoming dominant, and to Thames moving from a mining town towards a farming service community.

It was also considered a project typical of the time and of New Zealand Prime Minister Gordon Coates quest to develop the rural economy.

[8] In late 2009, a webcam was installed to allow online checking of queue lengths during the holiday periods, a feature that in New Zealand had so far been limited to urban areas.

[11] The new bridge is 587 m long, and has 16 spans,[1] with its foundations being driven 36 m to 50 m deep into the riverbed, due to the soft swampy ground not providing good support otherwise.

[1] Early reports suggested a completion date of mid-2012,[12] but in late 2011 it was announced that the bridge would be ready in time for the December 2011 holiday traffic.

Kopu Bridge in 2021 looking west. The old bridge is to the right
Kopu bridges from Hauraki Rail Trail in 2023