A two-year build-up of radio reports detailing the intricacies of Tauranga Harbour's bridge build culminated in an official opening 32 years ago today.Making those reports was former The Hits announcer Brian Kelly who recalled the
Happy birthday Tauranga Harbour Bridge: Iconic highway turns 32
Katee Shanks
"It was fascinating to watch.
"We used to go out onto the bridge in our cars and go across it when there was no other traffic around."
Kelly, who now hosts the breakfast show on Coast FM, described the bridge opening as huge for Tauranga.
"We had our car parked at the top of the bridge as it was only open to walkers during. There were bands and all sorts."
Before being opened, cars travelling between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui had to use the Hairini and Maungatapu bridges.
The first few years the bridge was tolled.
Kelly said he still believed the tolls should have continued, with the money going towards funding other roading projects.
"I also remember saying to the mayor at the time, that two lanes weren't enough. Even back in 1988 the town was growing so fast and it should have been four lanes from the start."
"Sure enough 20 years later a new bridge opened."
The 2009 bridge was a duplicate 466m long box-girder bridge parallel to the original bridge.
Tauranga historian Debbie McCauley said she remembered the opening of the 1988 bridge as a "big deal" for the city.
"We're [Tauranga] are fortunate there is a lot of material about the opening of both bridges," McCauley said.
Commemorative medals marking the opening of both bridges were released in 1988 and 2009.