As someone who lives close to this river and uses the bridge often I was glad to see the new bridge built, so we now have a 2 lane highway bridge there. It will never have the character and charm of the old bridge, but it has made for less delays and fewer accidents. Motorcyclists who were unprepared came to grief crossing the slippery rails on too sharp an angle quite often. It was also the scene of some road rage incidents, as some would fail to give way when they should, and I saw quite a few people shaking their fists and giving the finger to other motorists who often had no clue as to what they should do, as the bridge was just suddenly there and they muddled their way across. The old bridge is still there to look at, but only the rail traffic use it now, for which I'm quite happy.
Yes agree. Cyclists also had problems with the gaps to the side of the rail tracks. I seem to remember a few years ago a cyclist breaking his leg on the way to the start of the Coast to Coast that he was going to compete. The bridges are great engineering feats but as road bridges go, good riddance. Looking forward to the new one over the Ahaura River being completed shortly.
@@thephantomeagle2 Both ends had Give way signs and relied a lot on people showing courtesy to one another. The train in later years only went one way in the morning(South) and north in the afternoon and was pretty regular. Worst was that the train, when heading south and vehicle heading south would come up from behind on the left. When heading north there was a pretty good view of trains heading south and you just waited for the train to pass. If vehicles were already on the bridge the opposing train would wait. It isn't a fast line and only carries freight.
A bit further down the same road heading towards Hokitika, at Kumara Junction, (where SH 73 meets SH6) the railway line cuts through the middle of the roundabout. Road rule - Give way to the train then give way to the right as for any other roundabout. Drove over the Taramakau bridge on several occasions between 2015 & 2018. but never saw a train crossing it, so thanks for this video.
I remember at night it was so fun crossing it cause once there was a train behind us and it was going quite fast. Now that the new bridge is built the fun isn’t as good now but the new bridge is still awesome!
It's now reduntent and sitting to one side all forlorn. Querky to use , but safer now with the new bridge. I dont remember those drums when crossing it ! just praying a train was not going to turn up...
There is now another bridge for cars. It's important to think though that this is a remote part of the South Island, New Zealand, a country with a population of less than 5 million people. The cost of building another bridge had ato be justified somehow.
I live near this, I used to cross it twice a day, the trains crossed very very slowly, and you can see them coming from the other side, so it was never a problem. The trains were so slow, they were annoying to follow because they were holding you up.
@@bobbobbly7900 Thanks, your comment made me laugh. Go on, tell us how long the diversion route would take if the bridge was knocked out. Love the West Coast but most tourists have no idea.
As someone who lives close to this river and uses the bridge often I was glad to see the new bridge built, so we now have a 2 lane highway bridge there. It will never have the character and charm of the old bridge, but it has made for less delays and fewer accidents. Motorcyclists who were unprepared came to grief crossing the slippery rails on too sharp an angle quite often. It was also the scene of some road rage incidents, as some would fail to give way when they should, and I saw quite a few people shaking their fists and giving the finger to other motorists who often had no clue as to what they should do, as the bridge was just suddenly there and they muddled their way across. The old bridge is still there to look at, but only the rail traffic use it now, for which I'm quite happy.
Yes agree. Cyclists also had problems with the gaps to the side of the rail tracks. I seem to remember a few years ago a cyclist breaking his leg on the way to the start of the Coast to Coast that he was going to compete. The bridges are great engineering feats but as road bridges go, good riddance. Looking forward to the new one over the Ahaura River being completed shortly.
@@malcolmL995 Wow, a one lane bridge. How on earth to you know when to go with a bridge that long? Amazing.
@@thephantomeagle2 Both ends had Give way signs and relied a lot on people showing courtesy to one another. The train in later years only went one way in the morning(South) and north in the afternoon and was pretty regular. Worst was that the train, when heading south and vehicle heading south would come up from behind on the left. When heading north there was a pretty good view of trains heading south and you just waited for the train to pass. If vehicles were already on the bridge the opposing train would wait. It isn't a fast line and only carries freight.
@@malcolmL995 Thanks.
@@thephantomeagle2 watch this one th-cam.com/video/Zv8ZilUvLJ0/w-d-xo.html
A bit further down the same road heading towards Hokitika, at Kumara Junction, (where SH 73 meets SH6) the railway line cuts through the middle of the roundabout. Road rule - Give way to the train then give way to the right as for any other roundabout.
Drove over the Taramakau bridge on several occasions between 2015 & 2018. but never saw a train crossing it, so thanks for this video.
Nice piece of filming there mate.
This is the same as Inuyama Bridge in Japan in the past.
I remember at night it was so fun crossing it cause once there was a train behind us and it was going quite fast. Now that the new bridge is built the fun isn’t as good now but the new bridge is still awesome!
Very nice video. Thank you for sharing.
Drove it Feb 2014 - Interesting experiance, met other traffic, no trains. Seemed safe enough.
How do the vehicles know which way is allowed on the bridge?
In New Zealand, these sorts of one way bridges are all over the place, there are signs on either side, saying which side has priority to cross first.
The Garfield van at 0:25???
It probably has been resold a million times and done hundreds of laps around NZ! A happy camper.
Awesome video 💛🙌💛
It's now reduntent and sitting to one side all forlorn. Querky to use , but safer now with the new bridge. I dont remember those drums when crossing it ! just praying a train was not going to turn up...
Oooh I love the music 🎵
Super
Thank you!!
they couldn't just make a second bridge to reduce accidents?
Reduce what accidents? Also I like how spending millions of dollars to build a bridge over a wide fast flowing river is considered "just"
@@TheDarkFalcon accidents that happen because idiots drive over the bridge and go face to face with a train
@@PandaMan02 doesn't happen.
Nah mate train often waits until last vehicle exits
There is now another bridge for cars. It's important to think though that this is a remote part of the South Island, New Zealand, a country with a population of less than 5 million people. The cost of building another bridge had ato be justified somehow.
Good morning TH-cam, today we will be showing you how to turn a campervan, into a car, then into a van, before finally turning it into an SUV.
Kiwi magic!
I can't believe they don't have an traffic control devices to alert traffic to stop
I live near this, I used to cross it twice a day, the trains crossed very very slowly, and you can see them coming from the other side, so it was never a problem.
The trains were so slow, they were annoying to follow because they were holding you up.
we were lucky to have a bridge .let alone a signal..this is the West Coast after all
@@bobbobbly7900 Thanks, your comment made me laugh. Go on, tell us how long the diversion route would take if the bridge was knocked out. Love the West Coast but most tourists have no idea.
何きっかけで汽車←→車・対向車が入れ替わるのだ？