Te Wero Bridge, Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland City Council set up an international design competition for an opening bridge and, after two hotly contested stages, selected the striking design prepared by Hyder Consulting with architect Denton Corker Marshall and mechanical and electrical consultant Kenneth Grubb Associates. The project's aspiration was to create an iconic object, a breathtaking symbol for Auckland embodied in a unique and distinctive structure. Iconic status demands differentiation and, in the case of opening bridges, this can be provided by the built form, operation and scale. The Te Wero design responded to this challenge with a solution targeted specifically at the Viaduct Basin's unique history and environment. This paper considers the function and visual aspects of the bridge, its form and image, together with consideration of materials, design and construction issues that led to the final bridge design. The design is for a twin bascule bridge, with a tall mast structure that houses counterweights and a control room. When it opens, the effect will be dramatic, with the twin decks rising to either side. Thanks to lightweight aluminium decks and an ingenious counterweight system, however, it will be a low-energy, low-maintenance and sustainable solution.