State Highway 82 (SH 82) is a minor east-west South Island state highway in South Canterbury connecting SH 1 at the locality of Hook to SH 83 at the settlement of Kurow in the Waitaki Valley via the major town of Waimate.

The highway crosses the Waitaki River and provides a vital link between Kurow and Hakataramea.

SH 82 offers the only handy alternative route for motorists to reach destinations north and south of the Waitaki River and without these bridges motorists using SH 1 would face lengthy detours via the Mackenzie District.

Dating back to 1881 and 1893, these ageing structures were originally built as railway bridges but had recently reached the end of their serviceable lives.

Extensive flood damage during December 1995/January 1996 that resulted in the closures of these bridges, highlighted their vulnerability to further flood damage.