THE WHAU RIVER.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 116, 15 May 1920, Page 7

THE WHAU RIVER.

■ — NEW BRIDGE TO BE BUILT. ESTIMATED COST £6000. The need for a permanent bridgeacross the Whau River at Avondale has long been recognised, and as the result of a conference of the local bodies interested, at which Mr. H. Aitkcnliead, chairman of Waitemata Council presided, this work is now to be undertaken. At a meeting held yesterday it was decided to proceed with the construction of the bridge _t once, and the cost will be allocated amongst the various public bodies, oy a Royal Commission. The Whau bridge affects all : traffic by the Great North Road, consequently the estimated cost of £6000 will be distributed over a number of local bodies. Auckland City Council is interested owing to the traffic for the waterworks at Nihotupu, and Waitakere, also the Waikumete cemetery. The new bridge will be siirty feet wide, ten feet wider than the present one. It has been decided to reduce thespan from 175 feet to 25 feet, by the construction of abutments of concrete, by means of which the approaches will be filled up and made a permanent work. In conjunction with this work the grade of the hill may at the same time hi reduced, a_ the county engineer has been instructed to report upon the cost of cutting down the steep T_e in the I Avondale Road District.