Grafton Bridge

This morning I ran over Grafton Bridge to cross the gully from the city sde to pass the Auckland City Hospital and then into Auckland Domain. I take this bridge more or less for granted, it is such a part of the environment.

Built between 1907 and 1910 it was claimed at the time to be the largest one span ferroconcrete bridge in the world. In reading about it for this blip, I found that the original Australian based company building it went bankrupt, perhaps because they were not to be paid until the arch was finished.

Low maintenance costs in comparison with a steel structure was what swung the Auckland Council of the day to choose a concrete bridge. Little maintenance was done for many years, and there were some consequent problems.

In the 1970s (I think) barriers were placed on the top of the balustrade on both sides to discourage jumpers. These barriers did not prevent someone clambering over the top, or around the ends. They did endanger would be rescuers; I know one person who was at risk of being pulled over as he held on to the would be jumper. In the mid 1990s the barriers were taken down, and the lamps returned to the original design. The bridge was restored to its original deign, and attractiveness.

Unfortunately, there was then an increase in jumpers from the bridge, and the council put up this present barrier(more attractive than the previous one) about ten years ago. Access from the ends is nigh impossible also. Since then no jumpers have been recorded.

In 2009 the bridge was closed to all traffic for some months while strengthening work was carried out, and the bridge is now dedicated to buses and pedestrians between 7 am and 7 pm. Cars and trucks can use it at nights and weekends.

I took this shot on my ay back home, on the Grafton Road side looking back westwards towards the city. The sun was not long up, and the golden light is shining on part of the bridge.