ONEPUHI BRIDGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 81, 4 March 1935, Page 8

ONEPUHI BRIDGE.

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT. As the result of representations made by the Orouna County Council, an inspection of the Onepuhi bridge and the adjacent stream-bed was made recently, the Rangitikei County Council engineer (Mr S. A. R. Mairl reporting on the matter to Friday’s meeting. He said that those in the party making the inspection had been representatives of the two county councils and the resident engineer of the Public Works Department. The bridge itself was found to be in a stable condition for the limited load of three tons, said Mr Mail*, but a detailed inspection was to be made shortly. The river bed was inspected for u~ mile or more above the bridge to where flood waters overflow into the Waituna Stream. The limited stabilisation work so far, carried out was accomplishing its purpose. Those present at the inspection, Mr Mail* said, were of the opinion that immediate steps should he taken to complete the work along the east bank to firm ground above the Waituna Stream, by surveying and acquiring the stretch of useless river hod and stabilising a strip by fencing and planting, and where necessary erecting groynes to keep hack the overflow waters, “it is anticipated that if this is successfully carried out, it will be possible to shorten the bridge by half when it has to be rebuilt. When the detailed inspection of the bridge lias been completed, 1 propose to report comprehensively on the present structure and approaches. J. have advised the Minister of Transport as to the limitations of the bridge, but he still wishes to have it included in the Onepuhi highway as class 111.” The Cheltenham Dairy Cmpany wrote requesting that repairs be effected to the bridge, which, it was stated, was not in a condition to carry safely the company’s lorries. “If the company want to come over this side to collect cream they must be made to comply with the limitations,” said 0r L. Hammond, and with that view other councillors agreed.