Second Stage Of Harbour Bridge Operation Finished

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28758, 2 December 1958, Page 19

Second Stage Of Harbour Bridge Operation Finished

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Dec. 1. The second stage in the intricate operation of moving' the pick-a-back span of the Auckland harbour bridge intb position over its piers was completed this morning. a little more .than three hours after the movement began. With the 560 ft span, weighing 1300' tons, hovering over the piers, the ebbing tide took over lowering the span into place. .. The Successful conclusion, of the operation leaves a gap of. mily ' t in the steel work, of ' the 3348 ft structure. The gap will be I closed with the erection of the southern half of the main navigation arch, which will have a clearance of 146 ft over mean tide level. The all-clear for today’s job was given at 6 a.m. after a weather conference confirmed that the wind would remain favourable long enough- to allow the trickiest part of the delayed operation to be finished. The three hours’ work which placed the span over its piers was . watched with great interest by passengers on city-bound ferries, who crowded the starboard railings to witness and photograph the scene.

workmen using winches kept It there waiting until -the tailing tide gently put it to’rtest on the piers at 1.46 pm. ‘ > and so slowly that movement was barely perceptible. One of the happiest men at the bridge this afternoon was Mr Wilfred Cardno. For him the tight of the great .span settling slowly lon to its supports was one of the highlights ut his job as bridg* projeci manager which began lata in 1954. He claimed no credit tor the success of the job. > “This Is a team effort.” he said today. *T may be In charge, but I am just one of a big team.” » Since Friday night Mr GaCTiw had had only a faw house.-slaoiL The Auckland bridge is the second big project he has controlled in recent years. Before coming to