The majestic structure – a beautiful and super modern at that time bridge over the Bay of Waitemata-appeared in Auckland in 1959.

At the time of opening, the Auckland Harbour Bridge was a controversial site. Some residents considered it too futuristic. But now it is one of the main attractions of the city, which every tourist must visit and which is photographed and placed on postcards.

The need for a bridge arose just after the Second World War. Auckland was developing rapidly. It was necessary to develop the Northern territories. So it was necessary to have a bridge to get there comfortably.

The project for the future Auckland Harbour Bridge was developed in 1953. The proposed bridge was to consist of a pedestrian section, sufficiently spacious and convenient, and six automobile lanes. Yes, it was designed with a reserve. However, because of this "reserve", the estimate turned out to be quite impressive and confusing for the authorities. To meet the available amount, it was decided to cut the bridge a little: instead of six, make four car lanes. Moreover, after the optimization of the project of the bridge, the pedestrian zone was completely abandoned. In this form, the bridge satisfied everyone. So the construction began in 1954. It did not stop even in the worst weather conditions: it was necessary to maintain a high pace because the city really needed a new crossing.

The grand opening took place in 1959. The bridge was admired for its grandeur and scale. But the architects who made up the original project were right. Just 10 years after its opening, the bridge began to be too small for the ever-increasing automobile traffic. So in 1969, the construction of two additional lanes for transport in each direction began. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly, as they say.

But since the main structure of the bridge was not designed for such a load, the supports began to crack. In early 2000, the Auckland Harbour Bridge was completely renovated. And in 2007, it was first banned from freight traffic to preserve the attraction. Later the reverse traffic was added during peak hours.