TWO NEW BRIDGES

SPANNING RAKAIA RIVER RAIL AND ROAD TRAFFIC [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday It is likely that two new bridges will be erected over the Rakaia River within the next 18 months. Already the Railways Board has approved plans for a new railway bridge to replace tlio present one, and the Main Highways Board has practically decided to span the same river with a new two-way traffic bridge alongside the railway bridge. The total cost of tho two bridges will be more than £150,000. To-day the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, said in a telephone interview from Wellington that the Railways Board had decided that the new railway bridge would be undertaken in the next financial year at an estimated cost of £85,000. The work was not expected to be completed before the end of next year.

The chief Public Works engineer, Mr. C. J. McKenzie, said tho Main Highways Board had practically decided to build a new traffic bridge. A definite decision depended on the replies received from interested local authorities about the contributions they were prepared to make toward the cost of the bridge, which would approximate £60,000. The board had considered the proposal to buy the present combined rail and traffic bridge, but had decided that it would be more economical to build a new bridge of reinforced concrete. vr