Medway St footbridge to be removed

11:32 am on 11 February 2013

A footbridge, which became a visual reference after being twisted during the earthquakes in Christchurch, is about to be removed.

Work will begin on Tuesday to remove the Medway Street footbridge to transport it to Ferrymead Heritage Park, where it will be stored until a permanent location can be found for it as a memorial to the earthquakes.

Avon-Otakaro Network co-chair Evan Smith said he hopes the bridge will be part of a memorial within the Avon River Park and Reserve, proposed for the Avon River residential red zone.

Mr Smith said the removal of the bridge will bring a mix of sadness, relief and hope for many people.

He said there is sadness at the loss of such an important symbol of the links between river communities and of the power of the quakes of September 2010 and February 2011 and relief that a significant health and safety risk is removed.

Mr Smith said many in the community hope the removal signals a milestone in the recovery of the eastern suburbs.