State of Waitohi Bridge

Press, 25 August 1976, Page 16

State of Waitohi Bridge

Sir, — Following the complaint about the Hawarden road, maybe the chairman of the Waipara County Council would care to inspect the Waitohi bridge, Medbury. This L Idge has become totally inadequate for present-d' , y needs. It is too narrow for the passage of some tractors and implements, and the frequent flooding of the ford causes great inconvenience to residents. This bridge also carries a great deal of heavy transport, unlike another new bridge nearby. I have yet to even see a car on that one. Does a councillor have to use a road or bridge before improvements can be expected? I can assure the chairman that I am a resident of the area. — Yours, ANNE McKAY. August 18, 1976. [Mr C. N. Mackenzie, chairman of the Waipara County Council, replies: “The council has for the last six years been engaged to the limit of the roading funds available in the replacement of most of the substandard bridges in the county. Priority for bridge renewals has for obvious reasons been given to those structures which could not carry the maximum legal vehicle loads and the success of this programme is evidenced by the fact that there are now only one or two bridges that have a weight limit restriction. The bridge referred to in the correspondent’s letter, although inadequate in waterway and width is still strong enough to carry all normal heavy traffic and has stood up to the passage of recent logging traffic without any noticeable problems. Because of its alignment, length and location the replacement cost of Philpotts Bridge is likely to be very high but the council has placed this structure high on its present renewal programme and it is hoped to rebuild the bridge within the next few years, if N.R.B. funds are available.”]