BRIDGING PROJECTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 115, 13 May 1912, Page 7

BRIDGING PROJECTS.

TWO OP AW A STRUCTURES REQUIIteD.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL

BODIES.

-Conferences of the local bodies of Marlborough. were held in the Council Chambers, Blenheim, on Saturday jnorning for the purpose of considering the projects of building a bridge- across the Opawa River at the end of Grove Road, and one across the Opawa near Renwicktown. The following bodies were represented :—Blenheim Borough Council: Mr J. J. Corry (Mayor), Councillors Girling, Griffiths, Parker, and Mr D. '■■ P. Sinclair (Town Clerk)/ Spring ■Creek Road Board: Messrs J. Gancy H. Cheesman, Gifford, C. Reeves, J. Watson,. F. Redwood, and E. Robinson (Secretary). Omaka Road Board: Mr R. J. Bell. Wairau Road Board: Messrs, R. F.tGoulter and W. Adams. Pic- i ton Borough Council: Mr J. Blizzard j (Town Clerk). Awatere Country ■Council: Mr G. Horn (secretary). Pelorns Road Board:1 Mr J. Fulton. Picton Road Board: Mr H. J. Stace, Jan. NEW BRIDGE IN GROVE ROAD.

For the purposes of the Conference relating to the bridge required between Blenheim and Grovjetown, Mr J. Gane, Chairman of the . Spring Creek Road Board, the convening body, was elected to the chair. The Chairman said that sine© the conference of local bodies had been -convened the Minister for Public "W^orks had visited Blenheim, and received a deputation regarding the aieed for a bridge very favorably. j?rom what the Minister had said, iihere was every prospect of obtaining a, £ for £ subsidy. Fie thought the ■local, authorities interested should now ' take' steps immediately to avail themselves of the grant in the event of a subsidy being granted. , The1 Minis-, ter was, he understood, prepared to 'have the survey made and the cost -estimated. The.Mayor of Blenheim said he felt that he was voicing the general feeling in saying that the work should "be got under way at once- He moved that the Conference appoint* . the iSpring Creek Road Board to take the necessary steps to get the T>ridge under way, by means of a sur-; vey of the site, preparation of plans ' and specifications, etc., the cost of j such preliminaries to be a charge against) the bridge. Mr Goulter seconded' the motion. Mr H. Cbeesman said that Tie supported the motion, though, he would .sooner see some body other than the Spring Creek Road~Board\ made responsfble for the initiative. H© felt sure that the cost of maintaining a separate traffic bridge would not be any greater than, if as great as, the -charges made upon the local bodies now in respect to the railwy bridge. The Chairman said it was suggest- , -eel that a hridge 598 feet in length be erected, to be made wider than the railway bridge, and' a foot higher. It V7&s estimated that the cost of the work would be about £8000. The Hailway Department had agreed to allow the right to take the bridge along a route to the west of the.railway bridge; and the idea was to • re- . adjust the river embankment accordingly. Mr Cony said he wanted- "iti clearly understood that, whatever was done to the embankment, it would not be- so interfered with as to ■weaken its flood' protective value. The Chairman said that the embankment would be . restored to its

present height and strength. The Bank on the Blenlieihi side of the river was higher than that on the -other side. The motion was carried, after the Chairman had given the assurance/ "that the Spring Creek Road Board ■would- not incur any expense, so far as the local bodies interested ■ were concerned, until it had been, duly in- - " formed that' the^ prospective £ for £ ~.. subsidy was available. - On'the motion of the Mayor, it was- "" further resolved that, on hearing that a £ for £ subsidy was available, the Spring Creek Road Board 'convene a conference of local bodies, and *übmit plans and specifications thereto, with a view to allocating the cost -of the bridge without going to the expense of a Commission. BRIDGE AT RBNWICKTOWN. Mr R. J. Bell, as of the Omaka Road Board, the convening body, was elected to the chair for the purposes of the conference regarding the proposed bridge over the Opawa River near Renwicktown. Mr Bell explained that the conference was convened at the instance of • the Bridge Committee formed at Renwicktown. He spoke of the desirableness of a bridge over the Opawa ford as the supplement of the bridge now being constructed across the Wairau in the vicinity. Mr Gane expressed himself as opposed to this project if it meant the ' jeopardising or delay of the movement to erect a bridge ovei- the Opawa at the end of Grove Road., The Chairman remarked that the Minister for Public Works received the request for a subsidy very sympathetically, and promised' that a survey of the site would be made. He thought the project should be pushed forward, ana did not fear that any such steps would be detrimental to the other movement. He agreed that the bridge required between Blenheim and Grovetown should take precedence. The Mayor said that, having heard Mr Bell's sentiments, he would favor the Renwjck project. At the same time the preference for the Grove Road bridge should be made clear. He moved that: "On the clear understanding that if only one bridge is subsidised the Opawa bridge the end of Grove Road! have .preference, the Conference appoint the Omaka Road Board to take the necessary steps to get the bridge under wav, , in regard to survey, of the site, plans and 'specifications, etc., %he ■ cost of these preliminaries to be a. chaise against the bridge." Mr Goulter seconded the motion. He wished to see a bridge orected . across the Opawa near RenwiWtown, but quite recognised that a bridge at the end of Gtovo Road was the more necessary work. The motion was carried. Tt was also resolved thnt, on hearing that a £ for £ subsidy was available, tihe Omaka Road Board convene a Conference,of the local bodies intemstpd. and submit plans and specifications thereto.' with a view to allocating the cost of the work. , : Mr Cheesjnan upxnresp^fl tihe hone that the cost wonlrl be allocated without the intoTvfntion of a Commission. If this could be done much expense would be saved. The Conference then termmatted.