JACKSON BAY

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1937, Page 7

JACKSON BAY

HARBOUR SCHEME 500 Feet Wharf Widespread interest is shown in the news that the Government has decided on the continuation of a harbour at Jackson Bay. Although instructions from the Government regarding the harbour have not yet been received here by the Public Works Department, the wharf to be built, has been designed. A party is to proceed to Jackson Bay as soon as a shipment can be arranged. The work so far as can be seen by the District Engineer of Public Works. Mr R. Trevor Smith, will include construction of wharf approaches and of an access road, about three miles in lengtn on a long rocky seashore. The road will require the construction of some rock walls from the Arawata River to the Jackson Bay harbour. The wharf itself will be one of about 500 feet in length, including the approaches, of which 200 feet will be taken up by a quay on the end. The depth of water available at the wharf has yet to be definitely ascertained, but it will not be less at low water during the spring tides than ten feet, and may be more, as further investigations have to be conducted, and the results of bearings, etc., ascertained. It is probable that tenders will be called for the wharf construction, but the Public Works Department expects it will be necessary to set up an organisation there for constructing the road.

SOUTH WESTLAND BRIDGES. PROGRESS OF WORK.

Good progress is being made with the construction of road traffic bridges by the Public Works Department in South Westland. A contract has recently been let ±or a bridge over the Mahitahi River, near Bruce Bay to Mr J. A. Hart. It will be a bridge of nine 50-feet spans, with concrete .piles, piers, beams and deck. The Fox River bridge, at Weheka, is now nearing completion. The Public Works Department, at present, has men engaged in placing pre-cast deck slabs, a system of special design for suspension bridges. The Cook River bridge is also in course of erection, it being similar to the Fox bridge, and will offer less difficulty to the artisans engaged on it, due to it being a similar type of structure. ■ A start has also been made with the Karangarua River bridge, situated half-way between Weheka and Bruce Bay. This is also a suspension bridge, very similar to the Cook and Fox River bridges, but having a much longer span. Several other smaller bridges are in course of construction in between the bridges mentioned, and these will greatly improve access faailities in all weather. The Jacob’s River bridge, one of the largest concrete beam jobs is now in hand It is situated north of Bruce Bay and will take some considerable time before it is completed.