The Hamilton Traffic Bridge or Victoria Bridge was built as a replacement for the wooden Hamilton Union Bridge, which had become so rickety that it was unsafe.  In fact, traffic across the Union Bridge was highly restricted and during the flood of 1907 when a log became lodged against the eastern pier, a crowd of people gathered expecting to see the bridge collapse, but the log was safely removed.

The funding and building of a new bridge (along with other projects) became a contentious issue in the election of 1905.  The sitting councillors, with vested interests in keeping the status quo, were opposed to borrowing money for new building projects and were all defeated.  Eventually, after much discussion, the councillors decided to ask the voters to sanction the loans for the new building projects, including 24, 000 pounds for the bridge.  The bond to fund the new bridge passed with ease.

G. M. Fraser, described as “A Scotsman with a sharp tongue and a loud voice” (Leggett 2003) was put in charge of building the bridge and he did it without damming the river.  This project was a huge engineering feat for its day.  To avoid the piling problems on the sandy bottom of the Waikato River that plagued the Union Bridge, it was decided that a single span arch made of British steel, manufactured by the Cleveland Bridge Company would be used that was more than 100m long.  This type of arch was highly unusual for such a low bridge, only 18m above the Waikato River.  It was proposed that a wooden pedestrian walkway be attached, at a cost of 100 pounds, so that the full width of the bridge could be used for traffic, but the councillors vetoed the additional spending.  The original plan called for a tram line across the bridge, so a thick wooden deck was placed over the concrete surface.  The deck used 700 tons of concrete and it was 25cm thick.  No record exists of an opening ceremony, but the first person to cross in his buggy was Father Joseph Croke Darby (pictured below) on 10 September 1910.  The Bridge was strengthened in 1937 and in 1992 it was widened and a pedestrian walkway was added.