The bridge was commissioned by
New Plymouth District Council and designed and constructed by a consortium of Whitaker Civil Engineering, Novare Design Ltd,
Apex Consultants Ltd (now Spiire) and Fitzroy Engineering (now DIALOG Fitzroy). The bridge was funded by New Plymouth District Council and the Whitaker family.
Bridge design The designer, Peter Mulqueen, is quoted as saying he understood that the bridge should "touch lightly" on the Rewa Rewa side of the river, in order to honour the deceased. This ruled out heavier designs like cable stays and angular truss structures. Mulqueen wanted to achieve a bridge with a "harmonious and dignified character". With the ribs yielding to the prevailing wind, the bridge is aligned to
Mount Taranaki. The sacred mountain is framed within the skewed arch, when viewed while leaving the sacred ground – promising what is eternal.
Engineering design The bridge is designed to accommodate an ambulance and other service vehicles. It is made of three steel tubes; two beneath the deck and the remaining one, together with 19 ribs, forming a distinctive arch. 85 t of fabrication steel, 62 t of reinforcing steel and of concrete have been used for its construction. The bridge deck has been placed at above normal flow level to withstand both floods and
lahars from volcanic eruptions. A major challenge was to transport the long and 85 t superstructure onto the site, including across a private golf course. River contamination and disturbance was to be avoided, so no temporary piers were used. ==Opening==