Grafton Bridge to open early

Grafton Bridge will reopen on October 5, months ahead of schedule, but private vehicles will be banned during weekday daytime hours.

The 99-year-old landmark, which crosses Grafton Gully and links the central business district and Auckland City Hospital, was closed to all but pedestrians in October last year after a survey found it was not safe for heavy traffic.

It has been given a $7 million strengthening upgrade and is ready for use as part of the central connector, a rapid bus link between Britomart and Newmarket.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the early completion of the strengthening work was a milestone in the council's transport plans.

"I am pleased to be able to give Aucklanders faster, more reliable bus travel between our two largest commercial hubs, the city centre and Newmarket."

The bridge will reopen as a dedicated bus, pedestrian, cycling and emergency-vehicle route between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday.

It will be open to normal traffic outside those hours.

Auckland City Council transport committee chairman Ken Baguley said some bus services would use the bridge immediately, with more added early next year.

He said it was expected the bus lanes would reach full capacity by February, when 65,000 passengers were expected to use it daily.

When the 98m structure opened in 1910, it was the world's longest single-span concrete bridge.

It is 43m above Grafton Gully and is listed as a historic New Zealand place.

- NZPA