Grafton Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grafton Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 36°51′33.88″S 174°45′54.95″E / 36.8594111°S 174.7652639°E |
| Carries | Buses, Motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles |
| Crosses | Grafton Gully |
| Locale | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Deck arch bridge |
| Material | Reinforced concrete |
| Total length | 97.5 m (320 ft) |
| Height | 25.6 m (84 ft) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Clearance below | 43.3 m (142 ft) |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Robert Forbes Moore Karl Rosegger Agster |
| Constructed by | Ferro-Concrete Company of Australasia |
| Construction begin | 1908 |
| Construction end | 1910 |
| Opened | 28 April 1910 |
| Designated: | 23 June 1983 |
| Reference #: | 16 |
The Grafton Bridge is a special road bridge in Auckland, New Zealand. It connects the city center (called the Auckland CBD) and Karangahape Road with the area known as Grafton. Built in 1910 using strong reinforced concrete, it crosses a large dip in the land called Grafton Gully. This bridge is about 97.6 meters (320 feet) long and rises about 43 meters (142 feet) above the gully. When it was first built, it had the biggest reinforced concrete arch in the whole world!
Today, the Grafton Bridge is an important part of Auckland's history and engineering. It is listed by Heritage New Zealand and on the IPENZ Engineering Heritage Register. In 2006, engineers in New Zealand voted it one of the top engineering achievements in the country. Since 2009, the bridge has been a key part of the Central Connector bus route. This means private cars are not allowed on it during the day.
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Building the Grafton Bridge
The Grafton Bridge was designed by engineers R. F. Moore and Karl Rosegger Agster. The Ferro-Concrete Company of Australasia built it between 1908 and 1910. The city's engineer, W. E. Bush, oversaw the final work.
Earlier Bridges in Grafton Gully
The Grafton Bridge was actually the third bridge to cross Grafton Gully. The very first bridge was built in 1884. It was a pedestrian bridge, meaning only people walking could use it. This old bridge was not very stable, especially as it got older. Police sometimes had to stand at each end after rugby games to stop noisy crowds from making it wobble!
By 1904, a report showed the old bridge was beyond repair. It was closed right away. A simple temporary bridge was put in place at the bottom of the gully. The old, unused bridge stood until 1906.
Planning the New Bridge
For years, city leaders argued about what kind of new bridge to build. Should it be another pedestrian bridge, or one that could carry vehicles too? Eventually, they decided to build a road bridge. This decision was a big step for Auckland.
The mayor at the time, Arthur Myers, strongly supported building the new bridge. He even wanted it to be twice as wide as it ended up being. The bridge cost about £31,918, which was a lot of money back then. Many people called it "Myers' Folly" because they thought it was too expensive and too big for Auckland. However, Mayor Myers believed Auckland would grow quickly, and he was right!
Construction Challenges
The Grafton Bridge was built using reinforced concrete. This was a new and exciting building material at the time. To prove how strong it was, two heavy steam rollers were driven across the bridge when it opened in April 1910.
Building the bridge had its challenges. The original contract said the construction company wouldn't get paid until the work was finished. This caused the company to go out of business. The city then had to finish building the bridge itself. This added to the final cost, which ended up being around £33,000.
The bridge also crosses a small part of the Symonds Street Cemetery. This is a historic cemetery where many important early settlers are buried. When the bridge was built, only eight graves needed to be moved.
How the Bridge Works Today
The Grafton Bridge has one traffic lane in each direction. It also has a footpath on each side for people walking.
Bridge Repairs and Upgrades
Over the years, the bridge has had several repairs and upgrades to keep it strong. In 1938, cracks were found in some parts of the bridge. Steel supports were added, and some openings were filled in. After these repairs, a weight limit was put on the bridge. Even large trucks used by the US military during World War II were not allowed to cross it. More strengthening work was done in 1957.
Between 2008 and 2009, the bridge was closed for major strengthening work. This was part of the Central Connector project. The bridge was upgraded with carbon fiber to make it stronger against earthquakes. This also allowed it to carry many heavy buses. Now, it can handle up to 1200 bus trips a day and carry loads up to 40 tonnes. Before, it could only carry 13 tonnes.
In October 2009, Mayor John Banks reopened the bridge. The footpaths now have curved clear screens. These were added in 2002 to keep people safe.
A Bus Priority Route
Before 2009, about 13,000 vehicles used the bridge every day. As part of the Central Connector project, Auckland City decided to make the bridge a main route for buses. This meant that from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays, only buses and emergency vehicles could use the bridge. This helps up to 1,500 bus trips and 65,000 passengers get around faster each day.
This change was a bit controversial because it stopped cars from using the direct route to Grafton. However, the strengthening work made sure the bridge could handle the heavier buses and even a very strong earthquake. The bridge was found to be in good condition during the upgrade. The work cost about $6.9 million.
When the bridge reopened, not all buses immediately used it because the full Central Connector project wasn't finished yet. At first, many drivers ignored the new bus lane rules. After a warning period, the city started giving out tickets to drivers who broke the rules.
Today, the bridge is open to buses and emergency services from 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday to Friday. At other times, all traffic can use it.
Images for kids
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Wooden supports under the new bridge in 1909.
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Grafton Bridge being built, with scaffolding.
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Another view of Grafton Bridge during construction.
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Finishing work on the bridge in 1910.
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North side of Grafton Bridge, seen from the east.
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The bridge from underneath.
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