COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12331, 21 April 1938, Page 3

COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE

ON KAIMAI ROAD STRUCTURE OVER MANGAHURUHURU STREAM ACCESS TO PORI) CROSSING Further particulars in regard to the collapse of a portion of the Mangahuruhuru Bridge on the TaurangaMatamata Highway, show that a lorry and trailer, laden with timber from the Henderson Sawmilling Company’s mill, was crossing the bridge yesterday morning when a truss span, fifty feet long, collapsed and precipitated the trailer into the creek, twelve or fifteen feet below. The Mangahuruhuru is more commonly known as the Beacon Creek. As soon as possible after the mishap gangs of men were set to work 'by the Public Works Department and the Tauranga County Council in making a road to the old ford of the creek. This ford will only be negotiable by large cars. Fording will be at the driver’s risk, as the current is very strong at this point, while the bottom of the creek is uneven.

The Public Works Department is constructing a temporary span, in; timber for which has been ordered and will be delivered on the site as soon as possible. It is expected that the temporary span will be completed seme time next week. The bridge consists of two spans. It is believed that the ford will be negotiable after this evening, but travellers are advised not to use the ford unless absolutely compelled to do so. Auckland and Waikato traffic is advised to use either the Waihi or Rotorua routes for the time being. A contract was let some time ago for the erection of a new ferro concrete bridge adjacent to the site of the present wooden structure, but the contractor has been delayed in making a start, owing to difficulty in procuring steel. The site of the bridge is about half-a-mile on the Matamata side of the large concrete bridge over the Ngamuawahine Stream.