Following the recent intermittent technical faults experienced from November 2023 – March 2024, a significant programme of preventative maintenance works has begun on the Wynyard Crossing Bridge so this important waterfront connection can be re-instated as reliably as possible. This means it will need to remain upright and out of operations until late 2024.
The planned maintenance programme, which includes a full overhaul of old parts, applying anti-rust coating, and thorough trials and assessments to pre-empt and prevent future technical faults, is expected to be completed before next summer.
While the works are carried out, as a legal obligation under the bridge’s resource consent, it will need to remain upright to allow free access to marine traffic. Although the bridge is closed, Wynyard Quarter continues to be a key destination on the waterfront. It’s easy to get there via scooter, on foot around the viaduct basin, or catch the bright red City Link bus which runs every 7 minutes between 6am and midnight, 7 days a week.
FAQs on the Wynyard Bridge Crossing from Eke Panuku Development Auckland
As we progress with the critical maintenance required to restore the Wynyard Crossing Bridge to reliable operations, please find below some answers to frequently asked questions:
Q: Why are these works critical? Why does the bridge need to stop operating?
Following the recent intermittent technical faults experienced from November 2023 – March 2024, a significant programme of preventative maintenance works is needed to restore the bridge to reliable operations.
Since the faults began to occur last November, our teams have worked hard to try and mitigate disruption to the summer events and to the businesses in Wynyard Quarter. A series of interim measures were implemented so we could keep the bridge working to support such big events such as Red Bull Cliff Diving, and more than half of the Moana Festival activities.
Now that autumn and winter is approaching, it’s clear that this work cannot be further delayed if the bridge is to return to reliable operations before next summer.
The planned preventative maintenance programme will include a full overhaul of old parts, including winch and cables, applying anti-rust coating, and thorough trials and assessments to pre-empt and prevent future technical faults.
Q: When will the works be completed?
The engineers have advised that they expect the bridge to be ready for next summer (late 2024). Updates will be provided throughout this time, and we will provide more firm timing as work progresses.
Q: Why will it take so long?
The bridge urgently requires anti-rust coating as its current coating is at the end of its lifespan. The steel will significantly deteriorate if the coating isn’t applied. It requires scaffolding, sandblasting and then re-coating.
At the same time, a number of parts need to be replaced for the bridge to be able to operate reliably, and a thorough maintenance programme needs to be carried out.
Q: Why does the bridge need to remain unavailable to pedestrians throughout this time?
A large part of the maintenance works that will be carried out over this time will require the bridge to be scaffolded, sand blasted, and coated with anti-rust coating, therefore it would be impossible to make the bridge accessible to pedestrians through that process.
By law, as an obligation to our resource consent, the bridge must remain upright when there is a technical fault. Lowering the arms to leave the bridge open for public use when it has known technical issues also poses an unacceptable health and safety risk.
Q: What about the impact on businesses within Wynyard Quarter?
We understand and appreciate that there is an impact on businesses from the bridge’s temporary closure and, in partnership with some of the effected businesses, are working on various activations and campaigns to attract people to Wynyard Quarter throughout this time. This is being prepared now and will be launched by the end of April. We want to ensure as many people as possible know that Wynyard Quarter is still open and can easily be accessed, even if this direct connection will be unavailable until the necessary work is finished.
At present, we are also using a variety of channels including social media posts, signage and localised digital advertising to encourage continued patronage to Wynyard Quarter.
Wynyard Quarter remains open and can be reached directly from a variety of directions and various means of travel, including the regular City Link buses which run every 7-8 minutes between 6am and midnight from Britomart to Wynyard Quarter, 7 days a week.
Q: How can people stay informed?
As maintenance progresses we will be providing regular updates. Any important updates will continue to be shared through this memo format, however we will also be providing monthly email newsletters for anyone who would like to be kept informed. You can sign up to receive these here.
You can also follow the social media updates at facebook/yourwaterfront.
For more information about the Wynyard Crossing Bridge maintenance, see our website.
