SOON TO BE OPENED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 44, 1 December 1938, Page 6

SOON TO BE OPENED.

THE BRIDQE AT RANGITATA.

COMPLETION OF NORTH SPAN. The bridge spanning the northern stream of the Rangitata River has been completed and a start has been made on the shorter bridge over the southern stream. The new road, cutting the distance between Ashburton and Tim am by nearly nine miles, should he ready for traffic after Easter. The bridge cjiver the north branch, 2120 feet long, will not be available for traffic until the completion of the whole deviation. As yet the highway across Rangitata Island has not been formed. The first piles for the bridge over the south branch of the river, which will he 1040 feet in length, have been driven, and the final contracts for formation and paving of sections of the highway will he timed to coincide will), the completion of this bridge which will replace an old structure buiit from lo-cally-grown bluegum stringers. Said to he one of the largest highway deviation works carried out in New

Zealand, the Rangitata project w 11, it is understood, cost about £126,000. It involves the building of a new highway and the reconstruction and ecalmg of existing roads from Hinds to Winchester, the bridging] of the Rangitala’s two branches at a cost of £62,000, and tlie construction of cuttings and numerous culverts of creeks and waterraces. Motorists using the now route will travel from Ashburton via Hinds, Ealing, Rangitata Island, Rangitata South and Oran, joining the present higmyay at Winchostoi;. From Hinas lo Winchester by this route, is 21..2. miles, compared with 29.9 miles v a Anim ci, Orari Bridge and Geraldine. The deviation provides for the construction of a link road from Rangitata lo Orari bridge, via Cain’s road, giving access to Geraldine from the new nignvvay.