COUNTY’S CONCERN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3080, 9 February 1942, Page 5

COUNTY’S CONCERN

HEAVIER LOADED LORRIES BRIDGES ARE NOT SAFE OHINEMURI COUNTY’S OPINION Concern at the danger of some of the older bridges collapsing through heavy loads was expressed at Monday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council when a letter iwas received from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson, advising that under the emergency powers lorries

would be allowed to carry increased loads during January and February.

The letter from the commissioner read as under: —

“In order to meet the road transport needs of the community to some extent, the Hon. Minister of Transport has taken action under his emergency powers to permit of increased loading during January and February, 1942, on all classified roads. “The increase has been occasioned by ‘the drastic reductions which have been made in petrol allowances. The amount of the increase made is as follows: —

“Two-axled vehicles, S-ton per axle. “Multi-axled vehicles, i-ton per axle.”

“In practice this amounts to approximately 1 ton increase in the allowable gross load in each case. In the case of two-axled vehicles the gross weight (and consequently the payload) is limited by the axle weight restriction, the gross load in most cases being distributed about 20 per cent, to the front axle and 80 per cent, to the rear axle. The gross weight of a multi-axle vehicle is also limited by the axle load restriction. In this case the central axle carries the greatest load of all of the axles and this is in the. vicinity of 50' per cent, of the total load.

“The period during which the additional allowance applies is definitely confined to the two summer months of January and February when the road subgrades may be expected to be comparatively dry and capable of sustaining these heavier loads. “It is appreciated that in some cases of old timber bridge structures an increased loading may be unsafe. In most such cases there would already be imposed a gross weight limitation, which of course still applies. “An appeal has been made to road transport operators to take particular care to keep loads within the increased weights allowed during this, period,” the letter concluded. The chairman, Mr W. Marshall, said that in Ohinemuri the bridges were a danger with the heavier loads and he did not know how they would get on. _ „ “The bridges will not stand it,” he added. . He suggested that the council make application for a £ for £ subsidy to replace the bridges. It was decided to advise the commissioner of the concern felt by the council regarding the bridges. Dealing with the same subject the engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw reported as follows regarding Trig road bridge: “With the heavier loading of vehicles several bridges have been temporarily strengthened but the one referred to on Trig road is difficult to strengthen without going to considerable expense, as piles would be required. The alternative to this is the construction of a culvert, a plan an<| estimate of which has been prepared.” The engineer was instructed to apply for a subsidy.