Wynyard Crossing

Wynyard Crossing, bridge in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland

Satellite picture of the area, with the Wynyard Crossing location in red.

The bridge installed (opened spans visible), but not yet in use, in May 2011.

Wynyard Crossing is a new double bascule walking / cycling bridge built in 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand. It connects the redeveloped Wynyard Quarter with Te Wero Island and the existing Viaduct Harbour entertainment district, and thereby, with the wider Auckland waterfront. The 100-metre-long (330 ft) bridge is able to lift to allow watercraft passage into the Viaduct Harbour area, with a 36-metre-wide (118 ft) channel created by lifting two 22 m movable sections. Even closed and at high tide, the bridge will still allow a 3 m clearance, meaning smaller boats do not require the spans to be raised. Opening and closing the bridge will take 90, respectively 60 seconds, controlled by an on-site operator contactable by boats via radio.

The bridge was proposed after high costs (estimated at $50 million), combined with the Global Financial Crisis, prevented a more sizable structure (capable of carrying buses and trams) from being built in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Instead, a less expensive walking and cycling bridge was constructed from prefabricated sections - though the foundations will be strong enough to later bear a more substantial bridge capable of carrying public transport vehicles.

The planned cost of the bridge will be $3.5 million, and piling works started in January 2011. In April 2011, the first of the two 29-ton spans of the lifting bridge was installed. The bridge opened for the public in early August 2011.