WAIMAKARIRI BRIDGE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29008, 24 September 1959, Page 15

WAIMAKARIRI BRIDGE

Lack Of Courtesy By Motorists

Road courtesy on the part of motorists driving across the Waimakariri traffic bridge during the present alterations has been “almost non-existent,” according to a traffic officer of the Transport Department. During the alterations to the railings on the bridge traffic has been restricted on one section to one-way only, and motorists have shown a blatant lack of courtesy to each other in their attempts to reach the one-way area first.

There has also been a disregard for the safety of the workmen on the bridge displayed by many motorists who have been driving on to the bridge at speeds well in excess of the temporary 20 miles an hour limit which has been placed there. This limit extends over the full length of the bridge and as a result of recent micro-wave checks several motorists have been issued with traffic offence notices for speeding. Workmen Abused On some occasions, said the traffic officer, when there has not been a Transport Department officer on duty at the bridge, workmen have stopped motorists who have been clearly disregarding the restrictions and have asked them to keep their speed down. In return the workmen have been roundly abused by the motorists. While work was being done on the removal of telephone wire supports on the bridge, there was a delay of 10 minutes and during this wait some motorists displayed extreme impatience. The traffic officer appealed to motorists to observe the temporary speed limit on the bridge while the remaining work is carried out.