SHANNON BRIDGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 3

SHANNON BRIDGE.

REPORT TO HIGHWAYS BOARD. WORK MAY BE PROCEEDED WITH SOON. (From Our Foxton Correspondent.) It is over eighteen months since the Shanon bi'idgo was rendered useless by reason of the eastern span being carried away by flood. For somo considerable timo prior to this happening the bridge was threatened by erosion on the eastern side. When through communication between Foxton, Moutoa and Shannon was cut* off, meetings were held of representatives of interested local bodies and the whole question discussed. Prior to the destruction of the bridge the Main Highways Board had declared tho Shannon-Fox-ton road a main highway and refused to sanction any expenditure in reference to repairs to tho present bridge and a conference of engineers decided on a new site and a new structure. A new site was then selected and tho next point was apportioning the cost between the governing bodies interested. In the meantime a punt was provided to ferry traffic ncross the river, but it has not proved satisfactory to settlers and the travelling public. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., has been in receipt of numerous complaints from settlors in roferonco to the delay in .constructing the new bridge and last week had a lengthy interview with the highways authorities on the subject. Speaking to your representative on the subject, Mr Linklater said that tho cause of (jelay was due, in a measure, to the tardiness of the Foxton and Shannon Borough Councils in consenting to their apportionment of the cost. Until this was definitely settled progress was delayed. This point has now been settled and Mr Hannay informed Mr Linklater that his report would bo submitted to tlio board without delay and that there was every porspect of the work being proceeded with at an early date.