BRIDGE UNSAFE FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 16

BRIDGE UNSAFE FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC

* DOMAINS BOARD TO MAKE TEMPORARY REPAIRS A recent inspection of the wooden bridge which crosses the Avon river close to the grounds of the United Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club in Hagley Park has revealed that several of the piles are very much decayed, making it unsafe for heavy traffic. This bridge was the subject of a report presented to the Parks and Gardens Committee of the Christchurch Domains Board by the • Curator, Mr J. A. McPherson. The report was j discussed at a meeting of .the board yesterday, when it was decided to adopt the recommendations of the committee,' which had instructed the curator to fill up the cavities in the flooring of the bridge and to cover the decking with temporary running boards. The curator in his report stated that an inspection of the bridge revealed that the two central piles and the two end piles on the Botanic Gardens side were very much decayed and each had only a four inch core of sound timber left. The stringers and bearers were in good condition and the decking would last a few years longer if turned and protected by running boards. He stated that he considered that the bridge was safe for light traffic up to two tons for only 18 months at the longest, and recommended that an amount sufficient to repair the bridge to enable it to carry heavy traffic should be placed on next year’s estimates. Mr F. George* chairman of the parks and gardens committee, told the board that a month ago the committee had asked the curator to bring down a report on the Condition of the bridge, which had had repairs made to it from time to time. At the present time the board was financially unable to make complete repairs, but could patch up the decking. The committee had decided to erect notice-boards at both ends of the bridge warning motorists that it was unsafe. The chairman of the board, Mr H. Kitson, said that the approach to the bridge was downhill. This slope caused the traffic to accelerate, thus doing much damage to the decking.