QLDC closes Skippers Bridge over safety concerns

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has decided that Skippers Bridge will remain closed to all vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians until further notice, after an inspection of the structure late last year found failures of the wires in the cables used to support the bridge and any load on it.

QLDC Acting General Manager Property & Infrastructure, Roger Davidson acknowledged the continued closure would have a significant effect on residents in the area, tour companies, and recreational users, but said public safety was of the utmost importance.

“Investigations found failures of the wires in the cables used to suspend Skippers Bridge in place, which means we’ve been unable to safely assess what load the bridge can currently support and its integrity,” said Mr Davidson.

“Given the potential risk, keeping the bridge closed ensures we can keep the public as safe as possible while remediation work is considered in the future.”

The future of Skippers Bridge will need to be considered by Elected Members through Council’s annual planning process and prioritised alongside other investment needs across the network.

Mr Davidson urged the public to continue to abide by signage and barriers set up in the area, and to not attempt to cross the bridge.

Skippers Bridge is inspected annually due to its age and risk profile. Depending on their classification, other Council bridges in the district receive inspections at a range of times, from annually through to every six years.

Officially opened in 1901, Skippers Bridge uses suspension cables that roll over steel plates and then drop vertically into shafts before being anchored around ‘dead man anchors’ (a buried concrete object used as a strong anchor for tension).