KELBURN VIADUCT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 179, 27 April 1931, Page 8

KELBURN VIADUCT

Opening on Saturday The Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Troup, are to preside at the opening of the new Kelburn viaduct on Saturday next. Mr. Troup will make the opening speech detailing the value of the connection between Kelburn and Northland, and the stretched ribbon will be cut by the Mayoress, probably as one of her last public acts in the capacity she has filled so well. The new reinforced concrete bridge is the first of its type in the country. Every bit of steel reinforcement in the decking of the bridge has been electrically welded, so that, at no point is there a weakness in that regard. The bridge hns three spans of 80ft. each, and presents a roadway 22ft. in width, with two five-foot footpaths. Upland Road—the approach from Kelburn —has been gently graded down to the bridge, and will be comjletely paved by the opening date. During the progress of the work the contractor (Mr. W. Hodges) had the misfortune to fall from one of the scaffolding planks, and sustained such severe injuries that he was confined to a private hospital for some mopths. He is quite well again. There is general satisfaction at the manner in which he has carried out the work. A little later on Mr. Hodges will undertake the work of demolishing the old wooden structure, which has served the district faithfully for thirty years past j