New Ashley Bridge Is Novel Structure

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 3

New Ashley Bridge Is Novel Structure

Little or no maintenance will be needed on the new Ashley river bridge, now in its final stages of construction. Made of reinforced concrete, the bridge was novel among railway bridges, said the district engineer of the Railways Department (Mr G. Shrimpton) yesterday. Painting was one form of maintenance the bridge would eliminate, he said. Asked if the bridge reflected any new policy, Mr Shrimpton said: “It has always been our policy to build bridges that require little or no maintenance. Apart from that a concrete bridge is cheaper than a steel bridge.” Concrete would be used to build the Waitohi viaduct a mile south of Picton, and it would probably be used on the new Waitaki river bridge, he said.

The new bridge is 1800 ft long and spans the Ashley river on the Main North line a mile north of Rangiora. The contractor finished work on the 46 piles and 45 spans recently. The Railways Department hoped to have the track laid before Christmas, Mr Shrimpton said. The 24-inch piles, each weighing 12 tons, made another unusual feature of railway bridges, Mr Shrimpton said. Piles that size were used for the first time on the Selwyn river bridge built last year. Because the piles were sunk 50 feet below the river bed there was no chance of them scouring out in any flood conditions. The old bridge across the Ashley is made mainly of wood. It was built in 1875. The position of the new bridge would create an easy curve, eliminating speed restrictions. Mr Shrimpton said.