The newly-formed Wolffs Road Footbridge Society Inc (WRFSI) is leading the restoration of the historic suspension bridge, a heritage-listed pedestrian bridge in West Eyreton.

The Wolffs Road Footbridge has a span of 73 metres and was constructed in circa 1948.

The structure consists of steel rail iron towers with four wire rope suspension cables (two
each side of the structure) which provide support to the timber stringers and deck through
timber transoms and concrete suspension cable anchorages. The bridge originally
provided pedestrian access across the Eyre River when water flow prevented the use of
the adjacent vehicle ford.

Users of the bridge frequently took sacks of potatoes, peas and
other grain across in sack barrows. It was also used to carry cans of cream, and to allow
distribution of daily mail and newspapers to residents on the south side of the river. The
Eyrewell Forest Camp Village, which at one time numbered around 200 residents, used it
for getting such provisions. In a major flood of 1951, both the top (Oxford) and bottom
(Ōhoka) car bridges were washed out. The Wolffs Road Suspension footbridge was the
only access for people living on the south side of the river between View Hill and
Mandeville. Provisions from Oxford were brought across the bridge for the people of View
Hill.

The bridge and land were later given to the Eyre County Council by the Wolff family in
1978. Later, in 1983, a car bridge was built on Poyntz Road, on the next ford downstream.
Now, the bridge is in in a state of disrepair and has been for many years, no longer
performing its intended function as a pedestrian bridge.

The bridge deck is situated approximately 3 metres above bed level having sufficient
clearance to enable vehicle access beneath. There is currently no walking track or clear
pedestrian access to either bridge approach due to the overgrown vegetation.

The structure (constructed in 1948) was listed as a
Category 2 Historic Place in February 1994.

The reports outlined below are historic but give a sense of how and why WRFSI was formed.

In March 2023 the Oxford-Ohoka Community Board approved consultation to be carried
out by staff on the preferred option to disestablish the superstructure of Wolffs Road
Suspension Bridge. Other options considered but ruled out included:

• Full replacement of the structure
• Full disestablishment. Removal of the structure and site clearance. As the bridge,
is a heritage structure, this option is unlikely to be supported by the Heritage New
Zealand.

The local community and stakeholders were consulted with a total of 27 responses
received. 19 respondents were against the option (70%), 7 respondents were in favour
(27%) and 1 respondent was not specific. Included in the responses was an offer to
contribute $50,000 towards refurbishment costs. Consultation feedback was clear that
restoring the bridge was very important to the majority of respondents and there were
concerns about losing an important piece of North Canterbury history. There was an
indication that the community may wish to be involved in raising funds to contribute to
refurbishment costs.

ISSUES AND OPTIONS
In April 2021 WSP produced a site inspection and bridge refurbishment options report. It
should be noted that the bridge is listed by New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a
category one asset and any of the options would require further consideration and consent
with them.

An options report was previously completed for the Wolffs Road Suspension Bridge in
2012 by Waimakariri District Council (the Council). Two options were considered in the
2012 report including a ‘Do Minimum’ and an option to ‘Refurbish’ the bridge to reopen the
structure to the public. The 2012 report was initially prompted through engagement by the
Oxford-Ohoka Community Board