BRIDGE AT BULLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 29 October 1934, Page 2

BRIDGE AT BULLS.

CONTINUANCE OF DECAY

COUNTY ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Following upon his inspection of the Rangitikei River Bridge at Bulls by boring and sounding the timber, the engineer (Mr S. A. R. Mail') has reported to the Rangitikei County Council that the decay of the timber continues, and arrangements are being made to renew one major strut, one vertical strut, and six transomes. “Generally the piers are fairly sound, but two pile caps and several braces must be reneAved Avliile repairs are in hand,” lie states. “From a purely economic view, I do not consider the actual cost of repairs’ yet amounts to as much as the interest and costs on a neiv structure.” “For some years,” he added, “I have Avatched the river very carefully and endeavoured to stabilise the banks, and confine the normal river to a straight course Avithin 1000 feet of riverbed instead of 1750 feet as at present. These .works so far have been effective, and as considerable preliminaries have to be arranged before the new bridge. is built, I think it is time the proposition Avas again considered by the local bodies concerned, and the Main HighAvays Board. “As the reconstruction Avork in hand Avithin the Bulls town district is linked up Avith the actual position of the neAV bridge, I liavo stopped this work some 14 chains from the old bridge. The approaches to either the loAver site Avhicli Avas formerly laid out or the site above the present bridge suggested by the Main Highways Board Avould, therefore, commence from the present end of the Bulls town work. So that both sites may be further considered at the right time, a centre line has been laid down above the present bridge to eliminate the sharp curves in the old approaches and converge on the roadAvay at the eastern side. A plan of the locality showing all ■ the sites is under preparation. “The whole of the Main HigliAvays Board will be passing through Bulls to Marton on November 23, and I suggest that the council should then meet them at the bridge prior to considering the matter when the board are to meet the council on Friday evening in Marton. The Highways Board intend going on to Taihape next day inspecting points of interest en route.”