Client: Department of Conservation
Location: Hooker Valley Track, Mount Cook
Completed: May 2026
Project Type: Longest Pedestrian Swing Bridge Build
Length: 189 metres long
Hooker Valley Bridge: Delivering New Zealand’s Longest Hybrid Suspension Bridge
Project Overview
This significant unlimited load structure crosses the turbulent Hooker River and provides access to the mountain trails and the Hooker Valley. At 800m elevation and set in heavy glacial moraine, it required a unique design and a challenging construction project. DC Structures provided the unlimited load and high-wind capacity design. Abseil Access won the tender for the build of New Zealand’s longest swing bridge.
Our highly skilled construction team lived in Mt Cook village for the 12 months of construction. The rigging and drill teams had to cope with extreme weather events and regular high winds. Close collaboration with the Department of Conservation, DC structures, Canterbury Metal Works, Southern Lakes helicopters and Arcus wire ropes was required to successfully execute the project safely and efficiently.
The work included:
-
Installation of 20 load tensioned rock anchors up to 20m deep by Speight Drilling
-
All materials flown in by helicopter including mast sections at 1000kg, all hanger frames and decking
-
Triple sets of Redaelli 32mm Fully Locked Coil galfan spiral strand 100T MBL main cables for 50 year life
-
FRP decking for alpine environment
-
28mm Redaelli FLC spiral strand wind catenary cables tensioned to 65k
-
60m3 of alpine grade concrete poured by helicopter
-
4 artistic stainless steel laser cut art panels featuring the native alpine Kea
Project Gallery and Documentary
Go behind the scenes of the Hooker Valley Bridge project through our image gallery, full project documentary video, and detailed news article. Learn more about the engineering, specialist construction techniques, logistical challenges, and collaborative effort required to deliver New Zealand’s longest hybrid suspension bridge in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
