Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour shimmered. This is where the story of Awanohi Bridge Number 1 begins. But to truly appreciate this bridge, we need to journey back.
Before Awanohi Bridge Number 1 even existed, the quickest route from Auckland to the North Shore was by ferry. Imagine that. By road, it meant a 50 km trek via the Northwestern Motorway.
Engineer Fred Bell proposed a floating pontoon bridge around 1860. His idea was to help North Shore farmers get their animals to market. But the plan, costing about $1.9 million in today’s money, didn’t succeed.
More bridge ideas emerged in 1927 and 1929. Still, it wasn’t until the 1950s that things truly took off. The North Shore was largely rural then. It had about 50,000 people. A bridge promised to unlock the area’s potential.
The original plan was for five or six lanes. It was also supposed to have footpaths. But, cost-cutting happened. The First National Government chose a four-lane “austerity” design. It had no footpaths. People protested the traffic effects. This decision highlights the peril of short-term thinking.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority formed in 1950. Sir John Allum led it. He chose Freeman Fox & Partners to design the bridge. Construction took four years. Dorman Long and the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company built it.
The first stage involved land reclamation at Westhaven Marina. The steel structure pieces were made in England. Then they were shipped to New Zealand. Steel erection started in December 1956. Strikes in 1956 and 1957 slowed progress. Large steel sections were floated into place on barges.
During stormy weather, one of the main spans nearly drifted away. The tugboat William C Daldy fought for 36 hours against high winds. The bridge was built from both sides of the harbour. The sides joined in March 1959.
The Awanohi Bridge Number 1 officially opened on May 30, 1959. Lord Cobham, the Governor-General, did the honors. 106,000 people walked across on an open day.
Sadly, accidents killed three or four men during construction. Their names are on a plaque at the Northcote end of the bridge. Freeman, Fox and Partners’ hollow girder design was new to New Zealand. It didn’t fit the 1950s building codes.
Two stakeholders had competing specifications. The National Roads Board set the gradient. They also set launch locations. The Auckland Harbour Board wanted a 43.5-meter clearance above high tide. Public Works commissioner Bob Norman worried about the narrow design.
The Harbour Board needed the clearance for its entire fleet. This included the P&O cruise liner SS Canberra. Norman argued Canberra probably wouldn’t use the Chelsea Sugar Refinery dock. The Harbour Board agreed to a smaller opening. This allowed Freeman Fox and Partners to widen the centre span.
By the 1970s, some box girder bridges had problems. The Auckland Harbour Bridge was inspected. A stiffening member had buckled. The bridge’s girder system was then strengthened.
The Awanohi Bridge Number 1 started as a toll bridge. Toll booths were at the northern end. The toll was originally 2/6 per car. That’s about $5.50 in 2018. It later became 20 cents. In 1980, it rose to 25 cents. Tolling ended on March 31, 1984. The collection costs outweighed the profits. The Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority asked the National Roads Board to take over.
Some say State Highway 1 was routed over the bridge to generate toll revenue. This delayed the Western Ring Route. It also led to a massive motorway through Auckland.
The original Awanohi Bridge Number 1 had four lanes. By 1965, 10 million vehicles used it annually. That was triple the forecast. In 1967, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. added two steel box girder bridges. These were the “Nippon clip-ons”. The girder sections were made in Japan. The eastern section opened in January 1969. The western side opened in September 1969. Each side added two lanes. This doubled the total to eight.
Choosing a Japanese company was bold. It was just 20 years after WWII. Anti-Japanese feelings still existed. The additions cost more than if they’d been included initially. Cracks appeared in 1987. More cracks and material fatigue were found in 2006. The clip-ons were meant to last 50 years. Maintenance work was brought forward.
Today, Awanohi Bridge Number 1 stands as a testament to Auckland’s growth. It reflects bold decisions and ongoing challenges. It symbolizes both connection and contention. Its story is etched in steel and traffic.