An historic downtown Auckland bridge has been closed to traffic from Saturday as it no longer meets safety standards.
Work has begun to strengthen the 98-year-old Grafton Bridge which links the central business district with the inner city suburb of Grafton and Auckland Hospital.
The bridge is already too unsound to carry the city's heavy Link buses but after the work is completed it is expected to be able to withstand a major earthquake.
Ambulances going to the hospital will have to take an alternative route.
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge during the work which is expected to take two years.
"it's going to be an inconvenience there's no doubt about that so people will just have to be patient. It is something that has to happen, as we don't want the bridge to fall over," the Auckland City Council's transport chairman, Ken Baguley, said