Subscribe to RSSWynyard’s Te Wero Bridge
A key attraction at Wynyard Quarter especially for pedestrians and cyclists is the opening Wynyard crossing - the bridge accommodating pedestrian and cycling access between Te Wero Island (Auckland Viaduct) and Viaduct Harbour) across the Viaduct Harbour.
It’s a fantastic stroll across from the Wynyard Quarter attractions towards Quay St.
Heading towards Quay St
The 100m long by 6m wide bridge, designed by Hyder Consulting and built at a cost of $3.7m is raised to allow for passing boats.
This video shows what happens when boats need to pass. Sirens alert pedestrians they need to halt.
WYNYARD QUARTER PREVIEW CONTINUES
Preview of area starts here
Inside the Wynyard Loop trams Video & Photos
The Tank Farm turns into Silo Park
16 Comments
Hi - the designers were Hyder Consulting, with DCM architects and KGAL (not Hyper consulting). It would be good to include the video of our design for the permanent bridge which won the international competition, as the follow up to the utube clip rather than a runner up.
Is it opened by a manual controller? How long before do the sirens sound for? I’m a little concerned about blind or mobility impaired people finding themselves on an opening bridge which is suddenly 10m high and vertical.
The video gives you an idea of how much time there is in warning. There is a person in a control box alongside.
I wonder what the operating hours are for the bridge. I am assuming that it will be kept up at night to allow passage. The big problem with this is that it could lead to people having to take the long way round if they leave North Wharf late.
Jon, good to hear.
The warning bells are sufficient for someone with all senses and in good health, but you’d still want to sure everyone was off it. No robot operation, in other words!
“I am assuming that it will be kept up at night to allow passage.”
Default should be the other way around - lots more people walking and cycling over it than in boats at night!
Yeah but people have an alternative. The boats are stuck. I hope it’s not a case of 9pm raise the bridge and to hell with anyone unfortunate enough to be on the other side. It needs to be in operation until at least 11pm on weeknights and 1-2am on weekends. Mind you all those millionaires in their boats might complain about the noise of people talking as they wander past.
Wondering whether the sirens are also visual? I’m profoundly Deaf, so I probably won’t hear the siren at all. There needs to be some visual indication that the sirens are going off.
Very nice. The video reminded me of the canal bridges back in Holland.
But why is the bridge only temporary, due to be replaced in 2016? Surely this bridge is good enough without wasting another few million on a new one when we could be constructing more public spaces along the waterfront and in the CBD.
Daniel, that’s a very good question. It would be worth checking it out and making sure it gets fixed as soon as possible if not. You would hope that in 2011 disability would be an integral part of design, but it still seems tacked on too often.
Chris, I thought this was the permanent one and the new tram bridge was the temporary one. I’m not sure though.
This is not a tram bridge. Costing $3.7m it is for walking and cycling across only. the former Banks Council in the end canned plans for the approx $50m bridge and decided on a cheaper version for now. No date for when we might get the full bridge.
@JonC - foundations are strong enough for trams later. With an extension existing heritage bridge is still an option, with a higher clearance, meaning less openings.
Current bridge was to be monitored as to how often it would be opened. Also whether it really needs the width to allow 2 vessels to pass. If that happens rarely, then the hreitage bridge would work well.
Problem though is to allow the tram, but prevent buses. There were some bizarre plans to bring North shore bus route through here!
@Mark i have nightmares of motorists zooming down a side street from the clogged Fanshawe and trying to roar across it to avoid the traffic!
You can see the winning team’s submission for the permanent bridge here
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/tewero/winningdesign.asp
Went down for a look today, looks great but when we were leaving to head back to the city the bridge had broken down
Also George and Daniel: there is a flashing light on each side to warn people.
Bridge broken down! What was the cause of it?