Two bridges were built of structural steel & reinforced concrete, and joined together

1st bridge has spans A to C (597.4m long) & 2d has spans D to F (422.2m long). A 1.7m long toothed expansion joins them.

Top of the arch is 64m above water with a clearance below of 43.27m at high tide

Length is 1.2 kms & width is 12.6 metres with four lanes

Later in 1969, the lanes were increased to 8 with 2 added to each side called 'Nippon clip-ons' built by a Japanese firm

Official unveiling by the Governor General, His Excellency Lord Cobham

Lady Allum collected the first toll (2s 6d) from Mr Frank Perry

Tolling was later made north-bound only & discontinued on 31 March 1984, & the booths were removed

Auckland Harbour Bridge souvenir tie

Issued to senior staff of Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority

Set of souvenir cufflinks

Souvenir coat-hanger with original packaging

Geologists believe Te Tokaroa / Meola Reef was formed when Te Kōpuke / Mount Saint John erupted 28,500 years ago

Geochemical analyses carried out in 2008 led geologists to conclude the lava was not from Mt Eden or Three Kings

The lava had flowed 11 kms into forested river valleys at a time when the sea level was lower

After the last Ice Age took place 18,000 to 20.000 years ago, the sea level rose in the Waitemata Harbour

When sea level rose, water covered both sides of last 2kms of the hardened lava forming the basalt reef

Te Tokaroa was used by Māori as a land bridge for fishing, flax gathering & shellfish collecting

1891: Petition drafted for presentation to the House of Representatives by lawyer William Napier

Napier who was a candidate in Ak City election had toured the Northern districts & was impressed by calls for a bridge

20 June 1900: At a meeting of Birkenhead & Northcote residents, a committee was appointed to promote the Harbour Bridge

29 Sept 1900: A sketch of what the Harbour Bridge could look like appeared in the media

1920: The Auckland Canals and Waterways Commission raised ‘consideration for a bridge across the Waitemata Harbour’

Prime Minister Massey advised the Commission could commence its inquiry into a bridge in March 1921

15 July 1926: Waitemata Bridge Committee voted to apply for permission to raise £1m for the Harbour Bridge

However, the Govt refused the Committee's request for a lottery to raise the amount

13 Oct 1926: Waitemata Bridge Committee decide to seek support of Right Hon. J. G. Coates

The Committee circulated a petition which amassed 25,000 signatures

In 1930, Auckland Harbour Bridge Company, Ltd was formed & drafted a Bill in March 1931

17 April 1931: First reading of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Bill held

16 Oct 1931: The Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering Bill was reported with amendments

The Company was granted a charter to construct a bridge and collect tolls

1933: Securing funding & a start date became an issue with the onset off the Great Depression of the 1930s

1935: Funding discussed by the Takapuna Borough Council

1936: Another funding avenue was explored

1936: The Waitematā Harbour Bridge Association was formed by the Mayor of Birkenhead - Ernest Osborne

By April 1939, support included Okaihau & Dargaville Chambers of Commerce, Mangonui Distr. Civic League & County Council

1943: The Association advocated a bridge as an employment-creating project to help rehabilitate returned WW2 servicemen

In 1945, the Association presented a petition that led to the appointment of another Commission

The Association's petition was supported by the Automobile Association

The 1946 Royal Commission on Trans-Harbour Facilities Report considered a bridge, a tunnel, or more car ferries

Based on population & traffic projections, concluded a bridge would become “urgently necessary” within 10 to 15 years

Over the next four years, Ministry of Works started site investigations & seabed borings along the proposed route

Ministry of Works' plan dated 1949 showing a possible combined road & rail bridge, which was not pursued

March 1951: Auckland Harbour Bridge Report was submitted to the Commissioner of Works, Ministry of Works

Sir John Allum had gone to England to have the bridge designed by Freeman, Fox & Partners who prepared the report

By May 1951, the Authority decided to have a toll structure with 5 lanes, 2 footpaths & no railway, for c.£8m

It was agreed the connecting motorways would be provided by the National Roads Board

The Authority's proposed bridge design drew a range of comments in the media from members of the public

Concerned at the proposed cost, the Government refused to approve a loan to have it built

25 March 1953, protest rally was held over delays in building the bridge

Protest rally also held by those opposed to the bridge

Commission arranged for Freeman, Fox & Partners to prepare a new “austerity” plan

Side view of the model of the Auckland Harbour Bridge

A model of the new “austerity” plan with 4 lanes & no footpaths or rail

1950s: Automobile Association's plan showing proposed Auckland Harbour Bridge and road route for residents

2 Nov 1954: The Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority signed a contract to build the bridge

Contract was with a consortium of 2 British steel construction companies: Cleveland Bridge and Engineering & Dorman Long

Work began on 1 May 1955

Over next 4 years, hundreds of labourers were required, including 180 men sent from England

A plaque commemorating four workers who died during the project is under the bridge at Stokes Point on the North Shore

Pile driving for Auckland Harbour Bridge anchorage

Aerial view looking southeast over Westhaven Boat Harbour, 8 Aug 1955

Workers constructing wooden causeway, 16 Sept 1955

Barges were used to transport workers and materials

Prime Minister Sidney George Holland (centre) receiving a presentation from Chairman Sir John Allum during the unveiling

Aerial photo of progress at Northcote by 11 Dec 1956

Progress at Sulphur Beach, Northcote, by Feb 1957

View along a section of the Auckland Harbour Bridge at Stokes Point, 1957

Aerial photo of progress by 21 June 1957

Reviewing bridge completion target date

The large steel girder sections were partially pre-assembled, then floated into place on construction barges

Construction of roadway on the bridge

The bridge was 12.6 metres wide with four lanes

The roadway is above the 9.9m wide spans D to F

A car drives on the newly sealed road surface

The first car to cross the bridge was on Friday 24 April

It was driven by Mr W. Cardno, project supervisor for the contractors

Toll plaza

Cars & taxis were tolled 2s 6d, motorcycles 1s 6d, bus passengers 4 pence, & 4-axle trucks or rigs 20 shillings

Auckland Harbour Board Authority administration building

Average number of cars a day was 13,493 whereas planners predicted 8250 a day by 1965

The Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority lowered tolls as a result of higher number of cars crossing

The extensions were built on the original bridge foundations

The extensions were of orthotropic box structure

Plaque commemorating the opening of the extensions of the Auckland Harbour Bridge on 23/9/69

Silver medallion: "In Commemoration of The Completion of The Auckland Harbour Bridge Extension September 1969"

View of four lanes on one side of the bridge

Side view of the completed bridge

By the early 1980s, the cost of collecting bridge tolls began to outweigh the profits

The Harbour Bridge Authority was not keen to increase the tolls to cover repair and maintenance costs

The Harbour Bridge Authority offered the Bridge to the National Roads Board on condition that it be toll-free

National Roads Board accepted & began financing the annual maintenance cost of the bridge

Tolls were charged until 31 March 1984; then the booths were removed

Currently, the Bridge is managed by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) formed on 1 Aug 2008 following mergers

Fatigue cracks discovered in 1985 required the removal and replacement of some 2,000 splice joints

In Feb 2008, the movable concrete barrier was upgraded with a 2.2km barrier operated by 2 machines

The moveable barrier increases number of available lanes in the peak direction twice a day

Bridge climbing & bungy jump

AJ Hackett operates a bungy jump & bridge climb with views of the city & harbour

In Feb 2018, the Harbour Bridge was lit up during Pride Festival celebrations

A three-minute rainbow light display was held

In Oct 2020, a new strut was installed after being damaged when a truck was toppled by 127k/ph winds

From 22 May 2022, Vector Lights installed on the bridge using 90,000 LEDs & lit on Fridays & Saturdays

Project is a 10 yr smart energy partnership between Vector & Auckland Council, in collaboration with NZ Transport Agency

During windy/wild weather, lanes on the Harbour Bridge have closed

13 Nov 2024: Hikoi crosses the Auckland Harbour Bridge

The national Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi was in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill & government policies affecting Māori

In Nov 2024, a Treasury report suggested both a tunnel & second bridge to relieve pressure on the Harbour Bridge

This report was part of a $22 billion plan for the Waitematā Harbour Crossing, including a third tunnel for light rail