The Auckland Habour Bridge

The connection between North Shore and Auckland city center

Auckland Harbour Bridge and the edge.

Location

The Auckland Harbour Bridge opened in 1959, it across the Waitemata Harbour and connects the metropolis of the central business district to the North Shore and beyond to Northland. In the past, the only transport could cross the harbour was by ferry.

Construction of harbour bridge
Construction of harbour bridge

Construction of the bridge

History

The Harbor Bridge was built in 1959 of 1,020 meters long and the longest span is 243.8 meters with four lanes and expended to eight lanes in 1969 by adding clip-on extra two lanes in each side of the bridge (Structurae, 2024).

The original lane design of Harbour Bridge and the current lane in use.


Activities and Events

As one of the most famous features in Auckland, the Habour Bridge has experienced some events, and there is also have some activities that people can do join it at here.


Challenge


Solutions

Emerging Preferred Option

In August 2023, Transport Minister and Prime Minister announced that the consultation had led to a so-called "Emerging Preferred Option" which combined aspects from several of the earlier options:

  • A tunnel for Auckland Light Rail, crossing from the Wynyard Quarter to Belmont on the North Shore before heading north via stations at Takapuna, Smales Farm Bus Station, Glenfield, North Harbour, Albany West and terminating at Albany Bus Station.
  • Two new road tunnels (one for traffic in each direction) connecting the Central Motorway Junction directly to the North Shore, allowing national north–south through traffic to bypass the CBD entirely (with the existing Harbour Bridge reserved for local traffic).
  • Upgrades to existing stations on the Northern Busway.
  • "Significant upgrades" to the existing Harbour Bridge, and the raising of State Highway 1 from the bridge to Akoranga to protect it from sea level rise.
  • Extending the Northern Busway across the existing bridge to the CBD from Akoranga by allocating it two dedicated lanes and converting the eastern clip-ons into a fully separated active mode path, leaving the four remaining lanes for general traffic.
  • The overall cost was estimated at between $35 and $45 billion, which would make it the most expensive infrastructure project in New Zealand's history.

The final decision hasn't been made yet, people can still submit they voice to Auckland council, and the public cannot wait to see the future of the Auckland Harbour Bridge - will it have new partner to service the city, or an innovative design will come out.


Now, enjoy the first lights show in Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Auckland harbour bridge vector lights #VectorLights first show 27th Jan 2018 HD

Construction of the bridge

The original lane design of Harbour Bridge and the current lane in use.