[2][1][4] As the first available crossing of the Waihou River and the main link between the Hauraki Plains and Coromandel Peninsula, it sees a lot of traffic, especially during holidays.

[2][1] It replaced the barges and ferries which had until then served to cross the Waihou River, connected Thames to the newly drained dairy farming grounds of the Hauraki Plains,[2] and was reckoned to have made a big difference to the local district,[8] having marked the local shift from river transport to road transport becoming dominant, and to Thames moving from a mining town towards a farming service community.

It was also considered a project typical of the time and of New Zealand Prime Minister Gordon Coates quest to develop the rural economy.

[8] In late 2009, a webcam was installed to allow online checking of queue lengths during the holiday periods, a feature that in New Zealand had so far been limited to urban areas.

[11] The new bridge is 587 m long, and has 16 spans,[1] with its foundations being driven 36 m to 50 m deep into the riverbed, due to the soft swampy ground not providing good support otherwise.

[1] Early reports suggested a completion date of mid-2012,[12] but in late 2011 it was announced that the bridge would be ready in time for the December 2011 holiday traffic.