BRIDGING THE WAITAKI

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21857, 10 August 1936, Page 16

BRIDGING THE WAITAKI

■NEW STRUCTURE TO BE CONSIDERED COMPREHENSIVE RENEWAL PROGRAMME The Government’s intention to conaider the construction of a new bridge across the Waitaki river on the Main South road was indicated by the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) 'in an interview on Saturday, on his arrival from Wellington. The new bridge, he said, would be used by trains alone. The existing bridge would be slightly altered and would be used by road traffic. The Minister also announced that tenders would be called soon for the building of the substructure of the new railway bridge across the Rakaia river.

“The Railways Department is engaged on a comprehensive programme to replace old timber bridges vrxtn concrete and steel structures, sai „ the Minister. “These bridges have all given excellent service, but their replacement is necessary. The decision to renew in concrete and steel is in line with modem practice, and will permit of heavier locomotives being used, and also ensure a much longer life for the structures.” Tenders were to be called soon for the building of the sub-structure of the new Rakaia bridge, and in addition to this there were problems about combined bridges to be faced. These were, however, related to the activities of the Main Highways Board. Tenders would soon be called, too, for the, foundations of the Rangitikei bridge at Kakariki. in the North Tginhd,- and road and railway deviations were in hand which should be completed 4bout the same time as the new railway bridge, -keeping the jroad entirely on one side of .the railway in this neighbourhood. “Among other combined bridges that will have to be considered lor separation of road and rail is the Waitaki bridge at Glenavy,” the Minister added. “This bridge is nearly a mile long. The new railway bridge would be placed downstream from the prepent bridge, which, with slight alterations, would become purely a road bridge/’ . . ■ ■ .