Jacobs Ladder Bridge, Covered footbridge in Saint Marys Bay, New Zealand
Jacobs Ladder Bridge is a covered footbridge in Saint Marys Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, linking Westhaven Marina to a historic staircase while spanning over State Highway 1. The structure is wrapped in a golden-toned metal mesh and offers different pedestrian access points on each side.
The bridge opened in 2012 and was designed to reconnect the modern marina with a staircase that dates from the early 20th century. Before it was built, pedestrians had no direct path between the waterfront and the marina on foot.
The metal mesh wrapping the bridge is inspired by traditional Maori fishing nets, and this reference is visible to anyone crossing it. This link between an everyday craft object and a modern structure is unusual in the area.
The southern side has gently ramped paths for easy access, while the northern side has stairs and an elevator leading to the parking area. Which side you use depends on where you are starting from, as each one connects to a different part of the neighborhood.
At night, the metal mesh lights up and casts geometric patterns onto the highway below, clearly visible to drivers passing underneath. During the day, the structure looks plain and draws little attention from the road.
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