Upper Harbour Bridge facts for kids
The Upper Harbour Bridge (also known as the Greenhithe Bridge) is a big bridge in west Auckland, New Zealand. It actually has two parts! This bridge crosses a part of the Waitematā Harbour. It connects two areas: Hobsonville and Greenhithe. The bridge is a very important part of State Highway 18. It became even more important when the Western Ring Route was finished on July 2, 2017.
Building the Bridge
The first part of the bridge was built in the 1970s. Over time, more and more cars used it. Soon, over 27,000 vehicles crossed it every day! This was too many for the old bridge. So, a second bridge was built right next to it.
The new bridge was designed by a company called Beca. Fletcher Construction built it between 2005 and 2006. They used a special type of concrete that spreads out easily. This new bridge cost about NZ$35 million. It is 524 meters long and 16.5 meters wide. It has 10 sections. The new bridge was made to look similar to the older bridge. The older bridge is 457 meters long and has 7 sections.
Bridge Features and Use
The bridges have different lanes for traffic. There are three lanes for cars going towards Greenhithe. This part of the road goes uphill. There are two lanes for cars going downhill. Before the motorway opened, the old bridge was closed for repairs. Workers fixed some parts that were sagging.
All bridge lanes opened on December 6, 2007, when the motorway was finished. The new bridge also has a special path. This path is for people who want to walk or cycle. It is on the north side of the bridge.
The bridge project, along with widening the road leading to it, won an award. It received a Silver Award from the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand.
A Famous Jump
In 1986, the original bridge was used for something exciting. A person named A. J. Hackett tested his equipment there. These tests helped him create the world's first company for bungee jumping.
