Soon after being shortlisted for one international prize, New Plymouth’s Te Rewa Rewa Bridge has become the first in the Southern Hemisphere to win another prestigious award.

The Arthur G. Hayden Medal from the International Bridge Conference recognises outstanding achievement in bridge engineering that demonstrates innovation in special-use bridges such as pedestrian, people-mover or non-traditional structures. (Picture, left: Mike Scott).

Previous winners have come from the USA, UK, Germany, The Netherlands and Canada.

“This is a significant award from international road and bridge specialists − and it’s a coup for New Zealand that it’s been awarded for a bridge that was designed and built by Kiwis,” says Mayor Harry Duynhoven.

“Locals are proud of the bridge. Visitors are bowled over by the bridge. Now specialist engineers have seen it and said Te Rewa Rewa Bridge is the best new bridge in the world.”

NZ Transport Agency Central Regional Director Jenny Chetwynd congratulated New Plymouth District Council on its success.

“This bridge is an outstanding accomplishment that reflects the spirit and commitment that has helped New Plymouth be selected as one of New Zealand’s first model communities for walking and cycling,” she says.

The International Bridge Conference awards are presented annually to recognise individuals and projects of distinction. This award will be presented in Pittsburgh in June.

This award comes just a week after news that Te Rewa Rewa Bridge has been shortlisted for the Aesthetics Medium Award by the Footbridge Awards 2011, the winner of which will be announced on June 6.

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge is a 70-metre single-span shared pedestrian/cycle bridge over New Plymouth’s Waiwhakaiho River. It was conceived by New Plymouth District Council and jointly funded by the council and the NZ Transport Agency.

The design-build contract for Te Rewa Rewa Bridge was won by New Plymouth company Whitaker Civil Engineering Limited in a consortium with Novare Design Ltd and CPG, with subcontractor Fitzroy Engineering.

The bridge opened on June 5 last year as part of the extension northward of the Coastal Walkway, making possible a 10km off-road route for cycling, walking, running, skateboarding and rollerblading.