REDCLYFFE BRIDGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 279, 9 November 1931, Page 7

REDCLYFFE BRIDGE

RECONDITIONING FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC. MATTER DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. The question of strengthening the Redclyffe bridge or else making temporary provision for the season’s heavy motor-lorry traffic was, discussed at to-day’s meeting of the Hawke’s Bay County Council. It was pointed out that with the bridge closed to heavy traffic farmers were being put to a considerable expense and inconvenience in the carrying of their wool and fat lambs by having to make long detours. The chairman, Mr. F. B. Logan, stated that it had been estimated that necessary strengthening would cost £670 of which the council would have to pay the full amount. Cr. N. P. Eriksen said that the present position was very unsatisfactory as it would take about two years to build a new bridge. In the meantime something would have to be done to relieve the position. The chairman: I agree that some inconvenience has been caused but that is about the only inconvenience that the people have had to put up with through the earthquake. Cr W. Turner: It has meant miles of extra carting of woo] and fat lambs. Cr. Eriksen: It is all right putting up with inconvenience if it is only for a little while but in this'case it will be too long to wait. Cr. C. Lassen said he would like to see some action in regard to the overloading on the Waitangi bridge. He considered that it was of vital , importance to the district that tbe bridge should be kept intact. The chairman: That bridge is being very carefully watched. With regard to ‘the Redclyffe bridge the engineer could submit a scheme for a low-level bridge and a wire-netting causeway as a temporary measure. The engineer stated that such would cost about £2OO. Cr. C. C. Smith said that time was the essence of the contract. The Miiiuiic. had arrived and it was the

farmers who suffered by the bridge being closed to heavy traffic. Cr Harding pointed out that it was now costing the Poukawa farmers an extra sixpen :e a bale to have their wool taken to the Port by another route. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman and members interested with power to act.