Story: Bridges and tunnels

Building the Grafton bridge (1st of 3)

Building the Grafton bridge

The Grafton bridge, which spans Grafton gully in Auckland, was opened in 1910. It was then the largest reinforced concrete arch in the world. Building the concrete arch was a huge undertaking, using 943 cubic metres of West Australian jarrah and Oregon pine. The work took over two years, and cost £35,000 (nearly $6 million in 2018 terms). The bridge span is 97.6 metres.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Frederick Nelson Jones Collection (PAColl-3051)
Reference: 1/1-009511; G
Photograph by Frederick Nelson Jones

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Bridges and tunnels - Types of bridges', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23638/building-the-grafton-bridge (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 11 Mar 2010