OPAWA ROAD BRIDGE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29802, 19 April 1962, Page 12

OPAWA ROAD BRIDGE

Loads, Speed Restricted

The wooden bridge over the Heathcote river at Opawa road had been deteriorating for many years and work should begin on its replacement towards the end of the 1962-63 financial year, the works committee reported to the City Council last evening After a recent failure of deck planks near the southern end repairs had been made immediately, but the occurrence and a close inspection indicated that the bridge was reaching a stage when it might become unsafe under some of the heavier loads it was carrying. Proposing load and speed restrictions, the committee said they would permit the use of the bridge by Transport Board buses of the type normally using it now when carrying a typical load of passengers. ft would be necessary to keep a close watch on the bridge, and if there was further deterioration more severe restriction* would be inevitable.

Arrangements had been made to hire a single-lane Bailey bridge from the National Roads Board for use during construction of the new bridge. If more severe restrictions proved necessary before the bridge was closed for replacement, it would be desirable to erect the Bailev bridge and use it to relieve the old bridge of heavy traffic loads.

The council agreed with the committee that load and speed restrictions should be imposed forthwith.