NEW BRIDGE HIGH AND DRY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 14

NEW BRIDGE HIGH AND DRY

ASHLEY RIVER CHANGES COURSE SETTLERS ISOLATED IN LEES VALLEY The diversion of the waters of the Ashley river, through the flood, has left a new concrete bridge in Lees Valley, which was completed this week, standing high and dry, with only a trickle of water beneath it. The swollen waters of the river changed their course on Thursday evening, carrying away the approaches of the new bridge with them and destroying many of the belongings of the workmen, who had to evacuate the camp they had set up at the south end of the bridge. The approaches to both the other bridges in the valley were ruined, and with no access from either end of the valley, the settlers there are isolated. Last evening torrential rain fell in Oxford, and the weather in the back ranges seemed even more threatening, with indication of worse weather to come. The Ashley river was still rising. The workers on the new bridge had just completed their job on Tuesday and were preparing to move their camp to begin the erection of a second bridge across the valley, which was to span the Whistler river, when the Ashley altered its course and began to flow south round the end of the new bridge, instead of under it. The water flowed through the workers' camp, and many articles were lost, including boxing, tools, a sawbench, and a concrete-mixer. The men spent Thursday night at a home in the district, and yesterday they managed to salvage some of their lost property. The shed in which the tools were stored was swept away in the deluge. Protective works had been erected to prevent the encroachment of the river to the south, but the high waters were not to be kept in bounds and poured over them. It is expected that the Public Works Department will have to construct groynes to bring the river back to its original course.