PROTECTIVE BLOCKS FOR WAITAKI

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 3

PROTECTIVE BLOCKS FOR WAITAKI

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO WAIMATE COUNCIL

It seemed essential that some strong concrete blocks for protection should be placed along the upstream edge of the island in the Waitaki river, which was seriously affected, stated a report from Mr F. Langbein, presented to the Waimate County Council, after °an inspection of the upper Waitaki bridge. It was considered that such protection would make the island, connecting two sections of the- bridge, reasonably secure, but the tendency for the main stream to flow parallel with the bridge would doubtless continue to cause serious scours at the pile piers of the northern bridge. The placing of concrete blocks to improve the direction of the flow was recommended. As the bridge is of national importance, it was recommended that the cost of the concrete block protection, estimated at £SOOO, should be borne by the Highways Board without contributions of the local authorities, and the work be done by the Public Works Department, but that damage occurring to the bridge should be treated separately. Mr Langbein’s report mentioned that much good work had been done by the council. The chairman (Mr J. Bit chener) said that it seemed the only thing to do was to give authority for the work to proceed, though the county engineer (Mr W. P. Black), who had studied the Waitaki for the last 12 months, was not greatly enamoured of concrete blocks.