COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27612, 19 March 1955, Page 2

COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE

INVESTIGATION BY ENGINEERS (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, March 18. Ministry of Works engineers are still investigating the cause of the collapse of falsework on the Whenuakiira river bridge. The collapse occurred yesterday, hundreds of tons of timber, steel, and concrete plunging 40ft into the river and taking with it five workmen, one of whom was seriously injured. Not until the investigations are completed will a decision be made on the oridge’s future, the District Commissioner of Works at Wanganui (Mr J O. Riddell) announced this morning. He does not expect that the decision will be made until early next week. The condition of Mr Cyril Savage, of Kelvin street, Wahganui, who was knocked unconscious in the fall and remained pinned under the water for some time, is satisfactory, the Patea Hospital reports. Mr W. Mills, who suffered back injuries in the same accident, is also in a satisfactory condition. The collapse of the bridge caused damage estimated at £15,000, the centre span, falsework, and reinforcing being carried away. Two partially completed spans on the Patea side of the bridge were badly strained also. The contractors expected to have it completed in the next two months, leaving the approaches to be attended to before it was opened to main highway traffic. Designed in four' spans, the bridge was supported on three piers.