Onehunga Harbour Road Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Onehunga Harbour Road Bridge |
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The bridge seen from the west.
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| Coordinates | 36°55′53″S 174°47′11″E / 36.931485°S 174.78629°E |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Onehunga Harbour Road |
| Locale | Onehunga, Auckland |
| History | |
| Opened | 2010 |
The Onehunga Harbour Road Bridge is a special bridge in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. It's designed for people who are walking or cycling. This bridge helps them safely cross a very busy road called Onehunga Harbour Road. It makes it easy for people to get to the Waikaraka Cycleway and the Old Mangere Bridge, which connects to the other side of the Manukau Harbour. The bridge is about 3.5 meters wide and has a cool, curved shape.
Why the Bridge Was Built
Crossing Onehunga Harbour Road used to be very hard and dangerous. More than 15,000 vehicles drove on it every day. This was because of the nearby port and motorway ramps. Also, the road had a sharp curve, making it hard for drivers to see far ahead. This made it risky for people trying to walk or cycle across.
Building the Bridge
The idea for the bridge came from talking with local groups. These included community members and a cycling group called Cycle Action Auckland. The bridge was part of a bigger project to improve the State Highway 20 motorway bridge nearby.
The bridge was finished in 2010. The construction team faced some challenges. They had to dig very deep, up to 30 meters, to place the bridge's support piles. They had to go through volcanic rock to reach strong sandstone underneath. As part of this project, a nearby underpass under State Highway 20 was also improved. This underpass connects from the bridge into Onehunga.
