The Auckland Harbour Bridge spans the Waitemata harbour, providing a vital link for commuters, between the North Shore and the city, central business district and outlaying suburbs. An international conglomeration of parts shipped from England and Japan, the intricate steel work at the bridge's center, forms a distinctive arch, although some would say unkindly, that the bridge looks like a giant coat hanger.

Earlier Proposals For a Harbour Bridge

The bridge was open for business in 1959, this was the third, ultimately successful attempt, after two earlier proposal had been hindered by lack of finances; a hundred years earlier, plans were made for a wooden bridge, using floating pontoons, to enable farmers to herd their cattle to markets in the city. The second attempt in the 1920s never eventuated, due to the Great Depression.

A Harbour Bridge Needed for Auckland's Urban Sprawl

However, by the 1940s, as a direct response to Auckland's increasing urban sprawl, a harbour bridge became a paramount concern. Auckland's North Shore had previously been a quiet, farming and seaside destination, accessible only by vehicular ferries or a fifty kilometer drive around the harbour. A bridge connecting the two shores would ensure that the once holiday destination, could now become easily accessible land ready for urban development.