The ‘Ngā Hau Māngere’ bridge constructed by McConnell Dowell on behalf of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency was officially opened to the public on Saturday 27 August.

The bridge previously known as ‘Old Māngere Bridge’ was gifted its new name ‘Ngā Hau Māngere’, which ’means “gentle lazy winds’ by local mana whenua.

Thousands of people turned out to the opening day event and crossed the stunning new walking and cycling bridge connecting the Onehunga and Māngere Bridge communities.

After three years of dedication and hard work and despite the difficulties and challenges faced, the team successfully delivered this elegant bridge on time, LTI free and with an excellent environmental record.

The deconstruction of the 105 years old bridge and construction of the new bridge was very challenging due to its location within a sensitive marine environment and underneath high voltage powerlines. The design of the new bridge was very technical and the team needed to construct complex concrete structures such as the V-shaped piers in the middle of the harbour. About 414 tonnes of steel deck and arch also needed to be lifted carefully into place beneath the high tension powerlines.

Throughout construction, the project team maintained a strong community focus, keeping the local and wider community informed of the progress made through; quarterly Newsletters for the local community, monthly ENews, presentations at community groups, site visits, community open days…

Strong relationships were established in the local community over the course of the three-year project. The project team’s partnership with mana whenua ensured the area’s history and culture were reflected in the design and the delivery of the new bridge and that care and respect were shown to the environment during construction.

Congratulations to our team, our client Waka Kotahi, designers Aurecon, and our subcontractors and suppliers for delivering this iconic project.

Below is a video of the Ngā Hau Māngere bridge opening celebration.