An old covered walkway bridge in a picturesque part of the Ashburton Domain has had a spruce-up, courtesy of its original builders.
Meanwhile, the district council is incorporating the bridge into a new walkway.
Pakeke Lions Ashburton members built the bridge, over a stream, in 1993.
This year, they decided to replace damaged timber and apply a new coat of paint.
Then the district council suggested going one step further, replacing horizontal planks on the side with vertical ones, to meet compliancy criteria.
Members set to, and all-inall spent 112 hours on the project.
The renovated bridge was officially opened last week, by open spaces manager Ian Soper.
Pakeke first vice-president in charge of projects Dave Bennett said it was rewarding to see the bridge opened in its freshened up state, particularly as the club had built it in the first place.
‘‘It’s a lovely wee bridge, it’s a lovely setting up in there as well, under the trees,’’ Bennett said.
Materials costing about $3000 were jointly funded by the club and the district council. The bridge was located at the western end of the domain, near the artificial hockey turf.
Bennett said he understood it was to become part of a new walkway.
District council infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann confirmed the project.
He said a new path will run from the southern end of the bridge, tracking east alongside the water to the sealed road that runs from the Elizabeth/Grigg St entrance to a central car park.
‘‘We hope to have it finished this summer. It is part of the route used by the Saturday morning Park Run group,’’ McCann said.
‘‘There are long term plans to extend the domain’s existing network of pathways as budget allows. The new pathway will have a fine gravel surface, similar to the recent new path that runs along the domain’s West St frontage, from the corner of Wills St.’’
