The experiences that have been enabled at bridges across the world vary a great deal from one to another. From the effort to provide historical, cultural, and human context for the Golden Gate Bridge to the way in which the Tower Bridge connects people to the past and present of London, the experiences that visitors can have at these structures can impact the culture and economy of an entire city. Some of this impact can be seen with the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand, but the potential to do so much more with it is evident.
Joining St. Marys Bay on the Auckland city side with Northcote on the North Shore side, the Auckland Harbour Bridge is the second-longest road bridge in New Zealand and one of the most notable features of the city. Many Aucklanders use the Westhaven Promenade that runs right out to the bridge every day, and the Promenade continues to be developed. It gives everyone access to the boats and restaurant right on the water, all of which are in the direct vicinity of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Despite this activity and prominence, the limited experiences that have been enabled at it have kept it from becoming a true Auckland icon.
While the Auckland Bridge Climb allows viewers to access the Auckland Harbour Bridge from underneath to scale it and get a 360-degree view of Auckland, that view is one that can’t be experienced in any other way, since the bridge does not have any pedestrian access to allow people to walk or cycle across it. An add-on Skypath is set to enable this access, but timing around it remains uncertain, leaving visitors with very limited means to engage with the bridge.
Additionally, a small sculpture that was commissioned in memory of Lawrence Nathan by his family is the only monument or attraction directly in the vicinity of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The piece is a touching commemoration to Nathan’s philanthropy, but it pails in comparison to other monuments that have helped to augment and establish the identity of an area.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge contains the space, accessibility and notoriety to become a true icon for Auckland, and could attract residents and tourists by the thousands. Doing so will be a matter of creating and enabling experiences that can positively impact the culture and economy of the whole city.
