REBUILDING PLAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 2

REBUILDING PLAN

RAKAIA GORGE BRIDGE. ANOTHER SURVEY TO BE MADE. Reported several years ago to be unsafe for traffic, and long since included in the list of bridges to bo renewed, the wooden bridge at Rakaia Gorge is to bo surveyed again by the Public Works Department to ascertain its condition, it being held that in an emergency this bridge would be of considerable importance, and might be called on to carry considerable traffic. The Department has under consideration plans for 'the strengthening or rebuilding of the structure, according to a statement made yesterday by the District Engineer (Mr T. G. Beck), who said that even before war was declared this bridge was on the list for ultimate renewal, but nothing up to now had been done. In the end, this bridge would inevitably have to be replaced, but the proposal to be considered, Mr Beck said, was whether it would be possible only to strengthen it, a job which would have to give satisfaction at. least until after the war.

It was probably in no worse condition than some other Canterbury River bridges, which bore notices with a warning against use by heavy traffic, Mr Beck said, but it was' the only means of crossing the river in that region, and as it was on a mairi highway all precautions had to be taken. If it is decided only to strengthen the bridge, the work will be made simpler, because the bed, except in times of flood, carries no water, and operations there could be carried out without difficulty. In other regions of the river, where the water is deeper arid swifter, such a plan would be much more difficult.

The steel truss bridge which crosses the main channel of the river only about 200 yards ariray is of fairly recent construction, and will not need any alteration.