Blackball Bridge Closed For Period: Open Again Today

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1950, Page 4

Blackball Bridge Closed For Period: Open Again Today

Because of fears which were felt for its safety, as a result of yesterday’s rain which brought the Grey river up to a fairly high level, the Blackball combined road and rail bridge was closed to rail traffic yesterday afternoon, while passenger buses to and from Blackball last evening were routed via the “back” road. The bridge was, however, open for normal traffic this morning. There was a considerable fresh in the river at four o’clock yesterday afternoon and, as a precautionary measure, passengers on the late afternoon buses to and from Blackball walked across the bridge,, with the empty buses crossing behind them. This morning, however, the river level had subsided considerably and the first bus to arrive at Blackball travelled via the bridge route. All main highways on the West Coast are now open again for traffic. The Coast road to Westport, which was closed as a result of the southern approach to the Punakaiki bridge being washed 'out, was reopened late yesterday afternoon. The Otira route to Canterbury was also open again today, although it is reported that Rocky Creek, in the vicinity of Candy’s Bend, is carrying a considerable volume of water. The only route that still remains closed is the Blackball-Atarau-Ika-matua “back” road, as a result of the approach to the Rough river bridge being washed out. Repair work is being carried out and it is expected that the road will be open during the week-end.