A century on and Grafton Bridge is gaining strength. Towering 43 metres above Grafton gully, extensive upgrade work in 2009 was undertaken when it was discovered that the bridge was unsafe for heavy traffic. A $7 million carbon fibre strengthening programme has seen the bridge load capacity leap from 13 tonnes to around 40 tonnes.

The bridge is finished in Resene Lumbersider on concrete and plaster balustrades and Resene Uracryl 403 on cast iron lighting poles, all tinted to a special Grafton Bridge grey, the same coatings system that was last painted on in 1996.

The bridge carries an estimated 65,000 passengers each weekday, so the work finishing ahead of schedule was a welcome bonus for bus passengers who now enjoy a quicker ride across town.

Client: Greg Horne, Auckland City Council
Building Contractor: Amy Hodgson, Fletcher Construction Company Ltd
Engineer: James Renni, Beca Engineers
Painting Contractor: Peter Shepherd, Topcoat Specialist Coatings
Resene: Daryl Spinetto, National Project Services Manager
From the Resene News – issue 1/2010