TARAMAKAU BRIDGE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 12

TARAMAKAU BRIDGE

Advice Sought

On Plan

The District Commissioner of Works (Mr D. B. Dallas) will be asked by the South Island Local Bodies’ Association to give his opinion on the merits of a proposed bridge across the Taramakau River at Inchbonnie to give a shorter route from Christchurch to Greymouth, and open up the country. The association’s president (Mr W. H. Martin, of Buller) said that the South Island Publicity Association was interested in the proposal, as it would open tourist possibilities at Mitchells and round Lake Brunner.

The Grey and Westland county councils, whose boundary was the river, were not unanimous. It seemed to him that a long, costly bridge would be needed, and how would it fit in with priorities for the construction of new Cobden and Buller bridges? Mr O. Jackson (Greymouth) said that the new bridge was proposed near the railway bridge, two miles west of Jacksons. It would suit many persons by avoiding what amounted to a detour to cross the river on the present main road bridge near Kumara. He said that Mr Dallas, as District Commissioner, had recommended priorities for the Cobden bridge first, then the Buller bridge, and the smaller bridges later.