A pedestrian bridge that links Auckland's Viaduct to a strip of waterfront restaurants is broken and stuck in the up position. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Locals and tourists seem to be onboard with a plan to use a ferry while a foot-bridge across Viaduct Harbour in central Auckland is repaired, but many reckon it will still be faster to walk.
The 100-metre long Wynyard crossing pedestrian bridge, which opens and closes for boats to pass and pedestrians to cross, has been stuck in the up position and closed to the public since March.
It was decided a ferry would be brought in, after Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson demanded action.
It first shut down in November, but was soon fixed, and then broke down again in January.
Locals and tourists RNZ spoke with on the viaduct side of the crossing said it had been a nightmare.
"I come back and forth a couple of times a day, so for me usually I walk or scooter and for me, I have to go around. So it's been a pain," one resident said.
"It's nice to have the bridge that goes up and down and the boats can come out, but it's a bit of a pain for people that have to walk all the way around to get to the other side," a visitor said.
"We're just walking around investigating as tourists, we're not having to be over the other side, but it would be nice to be able to walk that way," said another.
Early last month, Auckland's Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson wrote to the council agency responsible for the bridge.
"Ultimately, it's becoming a reputational issue for Auckland given national and international audiences can see this highly visible piece of failed infrastructure," Simpson said.
She mentioned pressure from businesses and locals and criticised the agency's management of the problem.
Eke Panuku then came up with a solution - using ferries to take passengers between Te Wero Island and Karanga Plaza, every fifteen minutes for free.
The same locals RNZ spoke with said they would make use of the service.
"Yeah, because it's like really nice, and it's quite relaxing over there. So yeah, it would be good to have an option at least instead of walking all the way around," said one who worked in the area.
"Yeah, absolutely. I probably won't do it though, I'll probably just end up doing a scooter around cause it'll take me, you know, probably only 20 minutes to come around," said the resident.
However, one woman said waiting for the ferry and then crossing would take much longer than the walk.
"It would just be a waste of time, and it's nice to take a walk around the boats, it takes about 20 minutes.
"I feel like there are better reasons that they could use that boat for".
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said the ferry idea was a major step forward.
"The bridge being out of action has had a significant impact, particularly on the businesses in the area," Beck said.
"It's a great part of the city centre and seeing this put in place is good news."
However, she said the real priority remained clear.
"I think you can't beat the direct connection across the water there, so the sooner that's up and running the better."
Meanwhile, Eke Panuku chief executive David Rankin said the ferry was not intended to rival the bridge.
"The ferry service, the red boat, is really designed to catch casuals who have sort of walked up to the bridge not really realising it's closed," he said.
"There's no way that the boats will have the capacity to handle the volume of a bridge."
Rankin still encouraged commuters to use alternative options, including walking and taking the bus.
He said the extent of the hydraulic and mechanical work needed on the bridge was "surprising".
Auckland Council said it was not likely to be repaired until late 2024.
