Mission Bay residents are horrified by how much it costs to repair a bridge. Valerie Schuler reports.
Sandy beaches, a glistening harbour and a waterfront promenade. What else could Mission Bay residents ask for other than the speedy return of their designer footbridge to link these features?
After a long walk along Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay's award-winning bridge offered a welcome route to the sands of the beach. But, just a few years after being installed, the
acclaimed bridge has been removed for costly repairs and won't be back until late November.
Tamaki Drive resident Diana Wells, who used the bridge often, says it's unacceptable. "It's a gross misallocation of Auckland City money. We weren't informed it was being taken away and three months seems a long time to fix a bridge.''
Auckland City Council removed the structure last month without warning. The repairs, including re-coating and waterproofing of the light fittings, will cost about $70,000. "It's
ridiculous,'' says Ms Wells. "There's also been little transparency on how much money is being spent.''
Another local, Paul Ryan, agrees.
"The bridge has become a Mission Bay icon and will be greatly missed. The least the council could have done is told us. The amount of money being spent is disgusting.''
All that's left of the glamorous artwork-cum-bridge is a concrete plank, barricaded at both ends. Pedestrians must walk through the busy Mission House carpark to cross the stream.
The Millennium Bridge, also known as Aramarama, was installed in 2001. It now has to be recoated and its four pillar lights need to be replaced because they were not waterproofed. Some railing rods have to be reinforced because vandals damaged them.
City councillor and Eastern Bays Community Board member Toni Millar understands people's concerns. "I find it somewhat horrific that in just over eight years such extensive work needs to be done.''
The repairs will take some time because the bridge has to go to three contractors - one to repair the damaged rods, another to remove the old coating, then galvanise and paint the structure. Finally, the light fittings will be redesigned to cope with heavy rainfall.
Mr Ryan remains unimpressed. "Galvanising is hardly new technology,'' he says.
"Let's hope that the newer technology can withstand the battering of weather and salt spray,'' says Ms Millar. "I shall be less than happy if this remedial work does not last the 20 years that engineers have projected.''
The bridge is due back in late November.
Bridging the gap
Aramarama - the Millennium Bridge at the western end of Mission Bay was collaboratively designed between artist Virginia King and Chris Thom from City Design to celebrate the new millennium. It cost Auckland City Council about $100,000 and was nominated for a People's Choice urban design award.
The design represents a link between the millennia, combining the concept of palisade
protection with the aerial roots of a pohutukawa and the form of a waka prow in
acknowledgement of Ngati Whatua.