Cemetery Bridge

Opened in 1910, Cemetery Bridge wasn’t always called that. Many knew it as “Myers’ Folly,” a testament to the ambitious Mayor Arthur Myers. He championed this concrete giant, then the world’s largest reinforced concrete arch bridge. Cemetery Bridge spans Grafton Gully, connecting Karangahape Road and Grafton. It stands as a lasting symbol of a “Greater Auckland,” a vision Myers fiercely believed in. He predicted Auckland’s population would double in two decades. He was right. Cemetery Bridge wasn’t the first bridge to attempt this connection. An earlier pedestrian bridge, built in 1884, wobbled precariously under the weight of sports fans. It was eventually deemed unsafe and replaced by a temporary structure at the gully’s bottom. The Ferro-Concrete Company of Australasia took on the monumental task of building Cemetery Bridge. The project wasn’t without its challenges. The steep, bush-clad gully proved difficult. The company faced bankruptcy due to a contract stipulation withholding payment until the arches were tested. Auckland City Council stepped in, finishing the job with their own labor. Cemetery Bridge’s opening ceremony was a grand affair. Attended by dignitaries and the public, it marked a new era for Auckland. Two steamrollers were driven across the bridge. This was a demonstration of its strength, easing concerns about the then-new reinforced concrete technology. The bridge’s design, featuring large “false piers,” echoes the classical masonry style, while the central arch carries the full load. Cemetery Bridge’s construction impacted the Symonds Street Cemetery. Remarkably, only eight graves needed moving to accommodate the bridge. In 1936, cracks appeared, leading to repairs and weight restrictions. The bridge played a key role in the Central Connector project, undergoing a $7 million upgrade in 2009. This included carbon fiber strengthening, bringing it up to modern earthquake standards and allowing for increased bus traffic. Today, Cemetery Bridge stands strong. It carries the weight of buses and the hopes of a city that continues to grow, a reminder of a mayor’s vision and an engineering marvel that defied expectations.