28/07/2026
The Otira Viaduct is a large road bridge to the south of Otira, between Otira and the Arthur's Pass summit. Completed in 1999 by McConnell Smith Pty Ltd, the 440 metres (1,440 ft) four-span viaduct carries State Highway 73 over a stretch of unstable land, replacing a narrow, winding, dangerous section of road that was prone to avalanches, slips and closures.[1][2] One person, Tony Western, 25, was killed during construction in July 1998 when a chain failed and a pump fell on him.[3] A plaque was installed in his memory in the base of the westernmost pier.
More than a bridge—440-metre engineering marvel. dangerous mountain road| alpine scenery. 🌿✨
