Tauranga Harbour Bridge (Place)

SummaryThe Tauranga Harbour Bridge consists of two parallel bridges connecting Tauranga city and Mount Maunganui.
The original bridge, opened on 13 March 1988 by former Mayor Robert Arthur Owens, was two lanes wide and tolled until 22 July 2001. Due to increasing traffic congestion, a new three-lane bridge was constructed alongside the original as part of the Harbour Link project, opening on 7 September 2009. The original bridge now carries traffic towards Tauranga CBD, while the new bridge carries traffic towards Mount Maunganui

On the Tauranga side, Te Awanui Drive connects to Takitimu Drive, which crosses the Chapel Street Viaduct and runs along the Waikareao Estuary. On the Mount Maunganui side, it connects to Hewletts Road, passing through an industrial area towards Maunganui Road.

Before the Tauranga Harbour Bridge was built, traffic between Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui relied on the Hairini and Maungatapu bridge. The opening of the original bridge in 1988 is believed to have saved considerable travelling time.

The Harbour Link project not only added the new bridge but also included the widening of Hewletts Road, construction of the Hewletts Road Flyover, and the Chapel Street Viaduct.SourcesWikipedia retrieved 1 July 2026Tauranga Harbour Bridge moments in history

Second lane under construction in 2008. Photograph Bay of Plenty Times, Jimmy Joe.
NZME CD505-140508jj49bop

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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Tauranga Harbour Bridge (Place)

Known Date/s

Date Built1988

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | Places

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Tauranga Harbour Bridge (Place)