Bridges only small part of experience

I would like to thank Steve Morris for his reply on the Wairoa Bridge project (The Weekend Sun, June 2) but it was a rephrasing of his original text, so I researched the topic.

In 2016 a brief was issued by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council for a design of the proposed Wairoa Cycle Bridge. The limit was set at under $3 million. Acclaim and later acceptance was given for, 'The only bridge that did not have pylons”, which presently is costed at $7.1 million. So, in this case, the brief was seriously ignored.

The bridge is not iconic as stated by officials. An international moratorium has been declared on the overuse of this word. Many international bridges have similar impressive themes. Closer to home New Plymouth's Te Rewa Rewa Cycle Bridge is a lovely example of how to frame a view of Mount Egmont.

Cyclists come for promised kilometres of lovely sights and environments – bridges, possibly, being a very small part of the experience. A cheaper bridge using some pylons can still be made to look attractive. Monies leftover from what has been promised could be used for well-spaced amenities, further tracks and maybe a country backpackers could be built where future national and international friendships can be made. That's the stuff of memorable holidays.

D Wilson, Mount Maunganui.

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